


i 


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OF 


c TWf»*» Qeo n e ’ 

THE NOTED CRIMINAL, 



BRISTOL BILL. 


\ 


BY GREENHORN. 

NEW YORK: 

M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers. 

I t ; 1 1 — ■ - >■ ■> — ■ ~ IHi l__' — . 



AND 




?Z3 

v ' 




LIFE 


t-V 


EXPLOITS 


OP 


CHAPTER I. 

VBS HEROIC IN ROGUES MIKE MARTIN 

AND MIJNROE EDWARDS “BRISTOL BILL” 

EXTENSIVE ASSOCIATION OF BURGLARS, 

COUNTERFEITERS, ETC. AUTHENTICITY 

or bill’s biography. 

To such a complete science has profes- 
sional villany of late years been reduced, 
so innumerable are the chances of detec- 
tion, and so severe are the penalties in case 
of conviction, — that the man who has pas- 
sed through a long career of crime, and 
signalized his life by daring exploits and 
iiair-breadtl* escapes, is now generally 
looked upon somewhat in the light of a 
hero. There were certainly heroic quali- 
ties in the composition of Michael Martin, 
the highway robber — and it was an extra- 
ordinary though peculiar talent that ena- 
bled Monroe Edwards, while figuring in 
the character of an accomplished gentle- 
man, to plan and for a long time suc- 
cessfully carry out the most stupendous 
schemes of forgery and fraud recorded in 
the annals of American rascality. Had 
the chivalric bravery and indomitable ener- 
gy of Martin been exercised in a worthier 
vocation, his name might have been handed 
dowr to fame as one of the truest of he- 
mes, the record of his deeds unstained 


by anything like dishonor. And to with 
Edwards — what might he not have r>een ? 
With a faultless person, and all the ac- 
complishments of a refined education — with 
a grace and urbanity which never forsooK 
him — and with a considerable degree of 
genius, and great, fertility of invention — ha 
might, it is not vain to say, had all hi* 
qualities been directed aright, have filled, 
with honor and credit to himself, important 
posts even in the councils of the nation. It 
is therefore, that, looking at the component 
parts which go to make up the most daring 
and successful villains of our times, per- 
sons of all classes, while they retain their 
antipathy to crime, still, almost involuntari- 
ly, look with admiration upon the genius 
of the criminal, and breathe something of 
sympathy for his fate. 

Probably, for a few years past, no “pro- 
fessional” burglar or bank-robber has at 
times created more consternation, by his 
successful and astonishing enterprises, in 
various localities in the Northern States, 
than the subject of this work ; nor has any 
one more shrewdly and skilfully performed 
all the details of crime, or more successful- 
ly (until his last effort in Vermont) re- 
pelled the vigilance of the most celebrate^ 
police, and eluded all attempts at detection 


I 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


ft was in the month of August, 1849, that 
M Bristol Bill,” as he is generally called, 
first came personally before the public eye 
in the city of Boston. Matters connected 
with this period of his eventful career will 
be detailed hereafter in their proper course. 
Since the occasion of his appearance here 
last year — (supposed then, by the police* 
and the public, to be his first advent in 
Boston) — he has been the frequent theme 
0 / the press, and has tilled a conspicuous 
position in the formidable array of known 
rogues. So much of exciting interest, 
and so much of what 'might perhaps be cal- 
led romantic mystery, have been wrapped 
around events in the life of this notorious 
jonvict, that the author, availing himself of 
nnusual facilities in such a case, has here 
thrown together, in a compact form, such 
of the various incidents in the history of 
Bristol Bill, gathered from sources of un- 
doubted correctness, as it was thought 
rould prove interesting, and possibly in- 
ttmetive, to a curious public. 

A complete narration of everything crim- 
inal connected with the movements of this 
remarkable individual, would fill a most 
voluminous volume. He was a mem'ber, 
and one of the leading spirits, of the most 
extensive association of counterfeiters and 
burglars, and swindlers on a sublime scale, 
that was ever formed in the Western world ; 
an association which, centralizing itself in 
the chief metropolis, reached and infected, 
with its multifarious ramifications of crime, 
the business community of every city in 
the Union and the Canadas. But, within a 
few past months, one after another member 
this mighty gang has been detected and 
captured, until now it is to be supposed 
that this vast and formidable association of 
criminals is a] most entirely broken up, 
shorn of its strength, and none of its pow- 
er left except in the futile efforts of soli- 
tary iitflividuals who have thus far escaped 
tha ordeal of trial and the severe sentence 
of the just laws of the land. 

3 *1 


Considering, therefore, the extensive area 
which would necessarily be coverad and 
traversed, in order to comprise in our work 
everything of interest connected directly or 
indirectly with the career of Bristol Bill in 
this country, we shall confine ourself strict- 
ly to such incidents, and fragments of 
criminal history, as are most intimately 
connected with the individual life of him 
whose biography we have undertaken brief- 
ly to compile. 

Knowing the interest that is ever felt in 
the public mind, to learn as much as possi- 
ble of the early life of any celebrated char- 
acter, we have endeavored to truthfully 
portray the scenes of William Darlington’s 
early days, and describe, according to the 
facilities afforded, that period of his history 
which first saw him impelled to crime, and 
which so strongly marked out, for the once 
innocent but rash young man, a walk in 
life not easily to be retraced, and leading 
slowly but surely to the disgraceful fate of 
a most notorious and convicted criminal. 
To those who know intimately the subject 
of our sketch, and who, under certain for- 
tuitous circumstances, have listened to the 
evidently sincere relation of incidents in his 
early and later history, we need scarcely 
say, that little of fiction will he found in 
this memoir, and also that many of the most 
thrilling scenes in Darlington’s life must 
necessarily be imperfectly described. We 
know of but one gentleman coming from 
the land of Darlington's nativity, who has 
ever been enabled to afford the slightest in- 
formation concerning the early career of 
our hero ; and such facts as we have glean- 
ed at times from him most strictly corres- 
pond with the many fragments of a con- 
fessional nature made by Bristol Bill him- 
self. It is therefore that we feel war- 
ranted in putting before the world a pub- 
lication of what we consider a genuine 
history of the most celebrated burglar and 
bank robbei modern times. 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


7 


CHAPTER II. 

THE EARLY LIFE OF BRISTOL BILL HIS 

CHARACTER — HE IS SENT TO ETON 

HE FROLICS MORE THAN HE STUDIES 

HE SEDUCES A GIRL WHOM HE LOVES 

RUPTURE WITH HIS PARENTS — BILL AND 
MARY ELOPE TO LONDON. 

William Darlington is an Englishman 
by birth, and was born about the year 1802 , 
in the town of Bristol. His parents were 
of an old and very respectable family, and 
it is said, on good authority, that the father 
of our hero was at one time a member of 
the English parliament. The surname of 
the subject of our sketch we are not at li- 
berty to give ; for it has of late been not an 
unfrequently expressed hope that he should 
once more visit the scene of his childhood, 
and lo^k upon .he faces of the remaining 
member 3 of his family, who, as he confi- 
dently trusts, have ever been ignorant of 
his «~i.;ked career. Suffice it to say, that 
he was christened with the name of Wil- 
liam Trevor — that he was a second son, 
and, had he oarsued a steadier course when 
young, the careful pains and liberal 
wealth of his parents would have fitted him 
for a most honorable position in life. But 
Wiliam was a wild and reckless fellow — a 
dare-devil sort of a boy, who had much 
rather go on a fox-hunt than attend to the 
studies of school. His father, however, 
was strict, and by dint of perpetual vigi- 
lance succeeded in forcing into Bill’s head, 
despite his love of frolic, a sufficient varie- 
ty of learning to enable him to enter Eton 
College. But the watchfulness % of proctors 
and the reprimands of professors proved no 
bar to the careless behavior of the head- 
strong youth. His studies were neglected ; 
and it was not an unusual occurrence for 
Bill, with the money that was freely allow- 
ed him, to suddenly start on a trip to Lon- 
don, there to see the sights in the great 
metropolis, and when his money was near- 
ly gone and his frolic over, to return ex- 


tremely repentant to his fathers houae 
Severe reproof and a fresh supply of money 
would follow the meeting, and Bill would 
soon be on his way back to Eton — there to 
study closely for a few days, and then agai» 
yeild to his burning thirst for freedom and 
adventure. . 

There was one being, who, perhaps more 
than any other, at this time caused the life 
of William Darlington to be turned ‘ from 
its natural channel, and to ever after teem 
with all that was reckless and criminal. 
Mary Livingston was the daughter of a poor 
curate; and, possessed of unusual amiabili- 
ty and sweetness of temper, together with 
h well cultivated mind, had early attracted 
the attention of Darlington’s parents. It 
was therefore, that when Mary, at the age 
of sixteen, was suddenly left an orb pan, 
she accepted with a grateful heart the kind 
offer made by them, that she should become 
an Inmate of their comfortable abode, anc. 
assist in the instruction of two or three of 
the younger members of the family. Mary 
Livingston has -been described, by one 
whom we need not name, as a girl of sur- 
passing loveliness — and her mind was as 
free from taint, and her heart as innocent 
and childlike, as her form was graceful and 
her face angelic. William, from the day 
that she first made his father’s house her 
home, became exceedingly attached to her; 
and although Mary might not have been al- 
together pleased with the sometimes boy- 
ish rudeness and mad tricks of her yonng 
lover, she could not refrain from admiring 
his generous disposition and his frankness 
of expression and manner — the latter char- 
acteristic perhaps as remarkable in his 
younger days, as have been his shrewdness, 
cunning, and duplicity, in later years. 
There was something, it may be, of roman 
tic love, in Bill’s composition, that led hirn 
occasionally to forsake the classic retreats 
of Eton, and start, in defiance of all paren- 
tal orders and collegiate rules, for home and 
the arms of his adored Mary. A year oi 


8 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


two thus passed on — Bill often playing the 
truant — disappearing for days together on 
some mysterious frolic, or roving into neigh- 
boring villages, prying into the shops of 
mechanics, making the acquaintance of ar- 
tizuns, and gratifying his inordinate curios- 
ity in every way possible. Often would he 
be found, with his jacket off, exercising his 
ingenuity and invention in the workshop of 
some mechanic, tinkering away at the bro- 
ken fragments of some old machine, 
whistling, and cracking his jokes with the 
workmen, who seemed to think him quite a 
smart and clever young man — “ considerin’ 
he was one of those ’ere Eton boys.” But 
a most unfortunate epoch in the life of more 
than one individual was destined at this time 
to be reached. On the occasion of a some- 
what lengthy visit at home, enjoying the so- 
ciety of his Mary, and listening impatiently 
to the eludings of his father, an unholy pas- 
sion seized on the heart of the rash and un- 
thinking youth, and in a moment of impetu- 
ous love and tearful frenzy, the pleading 
ttice and earnest expostulations of the fair 
being he adored were hushed, and her ruin 
was accomplished. Calm reflection brought 
dismay and confusion to the hearts of both, 
and the unfortunate Mary poured a flood of 
tears on the bosom of her . unwise lover. 
.But William kissed the pale brow of the 
weeping girl, and swore eternal fidelity to 
her, no matter what else betide. 

Months flew rapidly by. The impassion- 
ed missives of mutual love passed frequent- 
ly to and fro, when Darlington was sudden- 
ly summoned to calm reflection, by the tear- 
stained letter of Mary, announcing, in deli- 
-cate and affecting terms, that the time was 
/ast drawing near when the result of their 
passionate love must bring exposure, 
-and she with disgrace be thrown an outcast 
into the cold unfeeling world. It was then 
that the young man, at this time twenty 
years of age, first began to truly realize his 
follies and position, and to earnestly feel the 
remorse he could not but have, at sb ■ mding 


in unhappiness and dishonor the heart of hi* 
idolized Mary. He waited not to bid adieu 
to his gay comrades at Eton, but hurried 
homeward with all speed, reaching the man 
sion of his father with more of the sad and 
serious pictured in his countenance than he 
was ever before known to exhibit. The 
plea of sickness was given, and then he flew 
to the side of Mary, to be received with 
tears of welcome, and to offer anew his 
vows of love and constancy. .Days passed, 
and each succeeding sun but gave deeper 
warning of the terrible denouement that must 
inevitably soon take place. Loss of home 
and utter ruin stared young Darlington in 
the face ; and poor Mary, how was she to 
bear up under the pitiless storm of disgrace ! 
But William could only whisper vain con- 
solation in her ear, and faintly express the 
hope that a kind father would look gently 
on the erring pair, that the neighboring cu- 
rate would be permitted to rivet forever 
their bonds of love, and' that all would yet 
be w r ell. 

But bitter disappointment was destined to 
attend the unhappy lovers. Appearances 
in such a case are not deceitful; — the almost 
constant communion of William with Mary 
— the pale face and dejected air of the sor- 
rowing girl — the altered countenance and 
manner of the formerly gay and reckless 
boy — all, in the eyes of watchful parents, 
denoted something extraordinary; — and, 
with the almost .unconscious curiosity thus 
excited, it was impossible that the true 
state of affairs could long remain concealed. 

The exposure came — the father was even 
brutal in his maniacal rage, and he struck 
his son to the earth ; while the mother re- 
tired to the solitude of her chamber, to 
dwell in tears and prayer on the mournful 
evidence of the wickedness which had 
caused her beloved adopted daughter to fall 
from the high estate of virtue, through the 
evil persuasion and mad passion of her own 
b id son. The father was wild in his de- 
nudation of William’s conduct, and bade 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


0 


Mary to leave his threshold forever. The 
son strove in vain to avert the impending 
doom — bu> all his pleas were in vain ; he 
was threatened with being cast into the 
world upon his own resources — with utter 
banishment from home, and all hope of pa- 
rental aid and mercy. 

The determination o^ the reckless but 
now stern young man was sudden and irre- 
sistible. Not for a moment would he har- 
bor a thought of separation Irom the idol of 
his heart — if she was to suffer the ban of 
disgrace and poverty, he would also share 
the same fate, and stand by her side a pro- 
tector, if not a husband. 

The coach for London passed early in the 
morn. The clothes and effects of the un- 
happy twain were secretly packed, and they 
were ready for departure. The parents 
were tossing in uneasy slumber, when at 
the noon of night, the adventurous Darling- 
ton quietly glided from his chamber, and 
entered the dressing-room of his father. 
The escrito re was open, and money was 
exposed to view. Hastily grasping such 
as met his eye, amounting to some seventy 
pounds sterling, he extinguished the taper 
he had borne with him, and noiselessly left 
the apartment. Proceeding to the room oc- 
cupied by Mary, he called her softly by 
name ; no sleep had closed her eyelids, and 
she instant y sprang to her feet. Darling- 
ton informed her of his operations, and they 
instantly prepared to leave the mansion 
which had been the scene of so many hap- 
py hours, but was now the abiding place of 
(sorrow' and disgrace. 

The next day saw them in London. 
Taking lodgings in the outskirts of that vast 
city, almost a world in itself, they enjoyed 
for a season all the delights that continual 
intercourse and the uninterrupted society of 
each other could produce. But Bill’s finan- 
ces w ere not inexhaustible, and they grad- 
ually dwindled away. Jewelry and trin- 
kets slowly disappeared in the dark reces- 
ses o r be pawnbroker’s closets, and the 


time had arrived when Bill music*®. Jxml 
him to find some means of livelihood. Sinco 
his last arrival in London, he had studious- 
ly avoided the public houses and places to 
wnich he had been accustomed to 
resort w hile on his frolicsome visits during 
his collegiate course at Eton, and he had, 
as he supposed, eluded all the vigilance 
and inquiries of his father and his friends. 
Too proud to resume an acquaintance with 
persons who had previously known him, or 
to solicit employment from any one who 
could trace his identity, he roamed, for 
many a weary day, the crowded streets, 
searching in vain for some humble situa- 
tion which it w 7 as possible for him to fill 
He had been too negligent a scholar to now 
make a clerk or an accountant, and he w&a 
altogether unfitted for anything in a profes- 
sional sphere. Stark poverty stared him 
unblushingly in the face; — there was poor 
Mary at their now miserable lodgings, wait 
ing through many a tedious hour for Wil- 
liam’s return with words of encouragement; 
— and it finally came to pass, that the still 
loving but wretched girl, rocking her inno^ 
cent babe to and fro, waited, not merely 
for the kind words and w T arm kisses of the 
unfortunate Darlington, but with pallid face 
and streaming eyes looked for his presence;, 
trusting for even the scanty food that must 
keep alive her famishing child. The sel- 
fish and cold-hearted landlord had too long 
harrassed his tenants to now exhibit tlie 
least feeling or mercy towards those whose 
means of paying a paltry rent had vanish- 
ed. Weary and haggard, came home at 
night the young man who had been reared 
in luxury, but now panting beneath the load 
of poverty and misfortune. No thought erf 
crime had ever tainted the generous, honest 
impulses of his heart — all that he now 
sought for was, to feed the hungry mouths 
of those who hung dependant on his feebte 
arm. 


10 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


CHAPTER III. 

1 WIGHT IN LONDON— THE HOME OF PO- 
VERTY — MART LIVINGSTON — WILLIAM 
DARLINGTON AND HIS FIRST CRIME. 

It was a dreary eve in November — the 
first dusky shade of night was settling over 
London city. In a barren room, containing 
hardly the necessary comforts of sleep or 
existence, in one of the most poverty-strick- 
en lanes of the great metropolis — sat by the 
cold fireside, while the chill wind whistled 
in pitying tones through the broken case- 
ment, a woman, whose raven curls had 
never waved in the sun of more than twenty 
summers — but her dark eye and blanched 
cheek too plainly told the tale of sorrow 
that had prematurely bent her once agile 
and graceful form, dimmed the bright lus- 
tre of her eyes, and changed the roseate 
hues of innocent youth to the snowy white- 
ness of long distress and a despairing heart. 
Her shivering arms were scarcely hid by 
the miserable remnant of a threadbare shawl, 
which she fondly wrapped around the 
emaciated form of a babe whose pretty 
lineaments spoke truly of its parentage. 
Oh, what were the thoughts of Mary Li- 
vingston, as with straining ear she listened 
to the creak of every door in that ruinous 
but populous abode — as the damp night 
breeze .came fitfully sighing through the 
broken panes, but brought no echoes of 
William’s footsteps ! He had been gone 
since day-break, and not a morsel of food 
had found its way to her parched lips. 

Bu the heavy tread of a man, laden with 
nothing but despair, is heard— and William 
Darlington, with glaring eyes and wild 
dishevelled locks, slowly and silently enters 
the wretched apartment’, and seats himself 
moodily in the only vacant chair. 

“Dear William!” said the weeping 
partner of his guilt and sorrow — but the 
flood of tears drowned all other words. 

Darlington’s flashing eye was moistened 
with a tear, but he made no utterance save 


a groan that seemed to well forth from his 
inmost heart. Striking his hand violently 
upon his forehead, he rose, and rushed from 
the abode of misery. Whither hia step9 
tended he knew not — he only felt the hor 
rible truth gnawing at his heart, that Mary 
— ye», the once fair and virtuous Mary 
Livingston — with* her innocent babe— was 
starving f Oh, what madness seized hia 
soul— he strided the crowded streets like a 
maniac, his blood-shot eyes glaring wildly 
on the thousand faces that seemed not to 
notice him as he passed. There were youth 
and beauty, wealth and fashion, all around 
him — there were the shops whose illumina 
ted windows teemed with all the luxuries of 
life — and, more than all, piled in huge 
heaps, on the counter of a sleek and cold 
eyed baker — there was bread ! Darling- 
ton gazed for a moment — he stepped within 
the door ; the proprietor was busy in atten- 
dance on women and children — almost un- 
conscious of the act, the desperate man 
grasped a loaf of soft, sweet bread — such a 
prize ! that he clutched it with both hands 
until his attenuated fingers met in the 
centre — and glided into the street, and 
hurried, nay, ran with fleet steps, home- 
ward. But the throng was great — from 
whence came "all those people, with their 
well-fi'led baskets and joyous faces 1 From 
the ovei -stocked market house. The lamp? 
gleamed luridly on the scene — the great 
quarters of fresh beef looked so rich and 
red ! the bacon hung like clusters of fruit 
in the windows and from the ceiling ! the 
white carcasses of lambs lay so invitingly 
to view ! all was luxuriance and profusion. 
What a sight for farnishdd eyes ! What 
wonder, then, that poor Bill paused — gaz- 
ed first on the contented crowd, and then at 
the ample resources of the market-house ! 
Oh, that he had but one silver shilling — 
one of those that he had a thousand times 
thrown 'urlessly away to lauging, playing 
boys by the wayside! But his pocKets were 
empty, and Mary was starving ! He had % 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


II 


loaf of tread, to be sure — but how his eyes 
glutted on those delicious haras that lay 
almost within his grasp ! The door-way 
was jammed with the entering and depart- 
ing crowd — all was business and bustle — 
no one would notice him — and the wretched 
"Darlington completed the second chapter 
in his caredrof crime — if crime, indeed, it 
may be called. 

Mary sprang to her feet alarmed, as the 
door was suddenly burst open, and William 
threw his ill-gotten booty to the floor. She 
questioned him in vain, and for a long time 
he sat, with his face buried in his hands, 
seemingly unconscious of everything. 

“ Ask me no questions,” he finally mur- 
mured — “ there is food — iet us be content. 
To-morrow 1 will have employment, and 
all will be well. Keep up a courageous 
heart, Mary, and we will yet be happy.” 

The downcast woman was cheered by 
these words of encouragement, and after 
imprinting a kiss on the gloomy brow of 
Darlingtor.. she sat about preparing what 
was to them a most luxurious meal. Bill 
gradually recovered from his desponderfcy, 
and midnight lowered its dark curtain over 
the peaceful slumbers of the father and 
mother, as they hugged to their bosoms the 
little victim of their first dereliction. 


CHAPTER IV. 

BILL FINDS WORK BECOMES A LOCKSMITH 

HIS INGENUITY — HE FRUSTRATES A ROB- 
BERY f REARING UP OF THE EMPLOY- 
ER'S ESTABLISHMENT SINGULAR DEVEL- 

OPMENTS. 

In the course of the next day, Darling- 
ton, while on his weary ramble for work, 
looked into the shop of a locksmith, who 
appeared to be doing quite an extensive busi- 
ness, occupying a tolerably large building, 
and employing a considerable number of 
workmen. Bill had ever ev need a me- 


chanical genius, and his memory instantly 
reverted to the vicinity of Eton, where he 
had spent so many hours in the company of 
artificers, and had himself exercised a little 
of his skill and ingenuity. He gazed on 
the contented faces of the toilers, as they 
plied their busy hands, amid the hum of 
machinery, and asked himself the question, 
“Why can I not work, and be as happy as 
they?” Gathering courage, he stepped 
into the counting room; and abruptly asked 
the proprietor if he could give him employ- 
ment. “ What can you do — are you a 
journeyman ?” was the reply. Bill explain- 
ed that he had never learned the trade of a 
mechanic, but he thought himself able to 
perform some of the more simple kinds of 
work in the locksmith’s shop — all he 
wanted, was employment and a livelihood 
— he was poor, he said, and his wife and 
child were suffering. His story seemed to 
touch the sympathies of Mr Burns, the 
proprietor, and he at once introduced Bill 
to the overseer of the shop, who immedi- 
ately set him at work, rasp in hand, on 
some small bars of steel. 

Bill went home that night with a lighter 
heart than he had before felt for many 9 
long day. 

It was not long before he had acquired a. 
wonderful proficiency in his business, and 
he was employed on some of the most 
difficult specimens of workmanship His 
wages were increased, and he bore home, 
every Saturday, his weekly stipend, with a 
glad face and a contented heart. Mary met 
him with happy smiles; their desolate 
lodgings began to assume a more comforta- 
ble appearance; and a fair future seemed to 
be dawning upon them. It was about this 
time, that, in consequence of numerous bur 
glaries, all the inventive genius of the most 
expert locksmiths was put in requisition for 
the manufacture of some kind of a lock that 
would resist the instrume nts and skeleton 
keys of skilful buiglars. Mr Burns in* 
mediately availed himself of the service* o* 


19 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


Darlington — offering him quite a prize if 
he would invent and complete such a lock 
as was desired. Bill thought it might be 
easily done, and began to study and tinker 
accordingly. In a few weeks, he presented 
to Mr Burns a very plain and ordinary lock, 
so far as regarded appearance, coupled with 
the remark that he didn’t believe anyone 
could pick that. The work was thoroughly 
examined, and submitted to the inspectipn 
of a large number of persons competent to 
pronounce a correct judgment upon it. The 
result was favorable — Bill was highly com- 
plimented .and well rewarded — while the 
new lock was put into the market and the 
proprietor reaped an abundant harvest. 

A short time after this, an event occurred 
which signally changed the current of Bill’s 
life from the even tenor of its way, and once 
more threw him upon the world without 
employment or any means of obtaining an 
honest living. 

The overseer of Burns’s establishment 
was > named Rockham — an excellent me- 
chanic, but rather morose and sullen in his 
manner, and seldom speaking to persons 
around hnn but on business topics; there 
was a sinister expression in his counte- 
nance, and a repulsiveness of look, that 
Bill did not fancy, and he therefore kept 
aloof from his overseer as much as possi- 
ble. One evening, when the work hours 
were over, and most of the journeymen had 
retired, Bill had been delayed somewhat, 
on a job in a remote corner of the building, 
and had stepped into a closet that was built 
under a flight of stairs proceeding to the 
rooms above. While there, he heard the 
voice of Rockham. who had come into the 
apartment in which Bill had been engaged, 
calling to some one who was at the time 
passing down the stairs. 

“Isay, Jarvis, come here!” said the 
overseer, in rather more pleasant tones than 
Bill had been accustomed to hear him use. 
His curiosity being a little excited, Darling- 
Urn remained quietly in his position, little 


suspecting the astonishing information 64 
was about to glean. „ 

Jarvis, one of the workmen, a large, 
thick set man, approached Rockham, and 
inquired, in low tones — “Well, captain, are 
all things right ?” 

“ Yes, I’ve got the key to old Burns’s 
chest — Mark has been at work on it all 
day. I tell you what it is ; Jarvis, we’ll 

bleed the oid covey tonight. D -n him^ 

he has had more swag than he’s a right 
to!” 

Jarvis seemed highly pleased at the re- 
marks of Rockham, and rubbed his hands 
in great joy. “ But won’t he suspect us?’ 
he suddenly inquired. 

“ Well, let him !” said Rockham — “if 
he dares to make a stir about it, I’ll blow 
on him — when I go to Newgate, he fol- 
lows.” 

“That’s right,” said Jarvis. 

Rockham continued — “ Be sure and meet 
me at the King’s Arms tonight, at eleven 
o’clock. We’ll have a pot of ’alf and ’alC 
and then come down and do the job.” 

"Other conversation took place all of which 
tended to convince Bill that the overseer 
and several of the workmen were members 
of an extensive gang of burglars — their em 
ployment in the shop disarming all suspi- 
cion, and enabling them to make duolicate 
keys to the doors and safes of many of the 
wealthiest bankers in London. The allu- 
sion to Mr. Burns was no further under- 
stood by Bill, than that it was their inten- 
tion to enter his counting-room at night, 
and rob the chest or safe, w T hich probably 
contained a large amount of money. 

When the overseer and his comrade had 
departed, Bill thought it his duty to ac- 
quaint his employer immediately with the 
plan of the robbers. Hastening to the 
counting-room, he found Mr. Burns alone, 
preparing for his departure homew r ard. In 
almost incoherent tones he informed the 
proprietor of what he had heard. Mr 
Burns became greatly excited, and vowed 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


a 


vengeance on those who had conspired to 
rob him — at the same time letting loose, 
as he paced the room muttering to himself, 
expressions with regard to “ peaching,” 
and “ the gang,” which Bill at the time 
in vain endeavored to comprehend, but 
which in after years he so well understood. 

Putting several guineas in Darlington’s 
hand, Mr. Burns, after requesting him to 
say nothing of the affair to any one else, 
remarked that he should immediately re- 
move all that was valuable in his chest, and 
bade him good night. 

The next morning, as Bill passed the 
counting-room on his. way to work, he no- 
ticed Burns and Rockham, in violent ex- 
citement, conversing in the most angry 
tones. Bill distinguished nothing that was 
said, but saw that Rockham was gesticula- 
ting in a threatning manner, and that Burns 
stood evidently in fear of him. 

It w r as apparent to all, throughout the 
day, that there was a screw loose some- 
where. The overseer was not attending to 
his usual duties — work was half-done, or 
entirely neglected — while every one seemed 
to entertain a strange foreboding. Towards 
the close of the day, Mr. Burns, pale and 
dejected, came from his counting-room, and 
addres&ed his workmen, who had gathered 
together, with the exception of tw r o or three 
in the principal shop. He stated that he 
had suddenly met with great losses in his 
business operations — that he w'as on the 
verge of ruin, and must instantly suspend 
all work in his establishment. His work- 
men could not regret this course more than 
himself, but the matter was unavoidable 

Bill afterwards learned the true cause, 
in part, of this breaking up of Mr. Burns's 
business. It appeared that Burns and 
Rockham had for a long time been in league, 
concocting and perfecting various burglari- 
ous schemes, from which they had realized 
vast sums of money. But the cupidity of 
Rockham had finally led him to attempt the 
robbery of his own colleague in erime. 


This was frustrated by the information af- 
forded by Bill Darlington. When the nro- 
prietor called Rockham to account, and 
charged him with the contemplated rob- 
bery, he was met with nothing but abuse 
and threats on the part of the overseer. 
Rockham even went so far as to demand a 
heavy sum of money, and insisted, that l( 
it was not paid him, he would “ peach ” 
on Burns, and ruin him forever. The pro- 
prietor saw fully the character of the man 
he had to deal with, and reluctantly paid 
over the required amount. Enough tran- 
spired to so alarm Burns, that he felt him- 
self in too precarious a situation to longer 
continue in business. There w’ere other 
accomplices who might endeavor to realise 
a similar booty to that gained by Rockham, 
and Burns felt that he must put himself for- 
ever out of their reach. With the remain- 
der of his wealth, most of which was ill- 
gotten, he suddenly left the town, and de 
parted, it was said, for America 


CHAPTER V. 

PILL IS IN IDLENESS AGAIN THE LAST 

SHILLING HE MEETS JARVIS TEMPTED 

TO CRIME THE “ KING'S ARMS” — HE IS 

ABOUT TO BECOME A ROBBER PREPARES 

FOR INITIATION. 

At this period, all business in England 
was in a stagnant state — troubles for sew- 
eral years past, in the kingdom and on the 
continent, had impoverished the public 
treasury, and had caused the financial ruin 
of many of the greatest manufacturers and 
bankers in the country; the minor branches 
of trade suffered in consequence — the poor- 
er classes, by thousands, were thrown out 
ef employment, and all participated in the 
general despondency. 

It prdved a most unfortunate period foi 
William Darlington. From the honest la- 
bor of nearly twelve months he had, it is 
true, saved a few pounds, but, again thrown 


14 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


into idleness, his little stock of money rap- 
idly lessened; and, worse than all, Bill, in 
his despondency, began to frequent the 
neighboring pot houses, and daily drown all 
thoughts of trouble in stupifying and bru- 
talizing beer. Mary’s appeals would occa- 
sionally waken him to a realizing sense of 
his situation, and stimulate him for a time to 
renewed efforts in search of work. But an 
evil star seemed to hover over the head of 
Darlington, and all his honest efforts were 
futile. Poverty — stark, unpitying, gnaw- 
ing poverty — once more entered his por- 
tals, and stood, like a grim skeleton, day 
by day and night after night, hideously 
mocking the miserable parents, who folded 
to their breasts, in despair, two innocent 
offspring, destined, perhaps, to starve, or 
be trained to maturer years under the vile 
tuition of a parish workhouse. 

The last honest shilling was in Bill’s 
pocket. When that was gone, from whence 
would come food, and the faggots to keep 
warm the chilled form of Mary and her 
children ! Anything — anything — thought 
Bill — to keep them from famishing. "Vague 
ideas of crime fluttered like strange wild 
birds before his dim and sunken eyes — but 
Darlington was thus far no criminal at 
heart — he had never before pondered on a 
way of taking from the rich, to better the 
condition of his own poor self. But now, 
something must be done — he hardly* knew 
what. Desperation had grasped him in its 
foul clutches, and there was no escape — the 
dark fiend of Temptation was leading him 
slowly but inevitably onward to the fatal 
goai, and his trembling footsteps were even 
now almost in the dreary paths of crime. 

The last honest shilling! the pot-house* 
was near — one more draught, and he could 
think calmly on his fate. 

Seatihg himself in a dark corner of the 
gloomy, smoky ale-room, with his mug on 
a deal table at his side, Bill buried his face 
in his hands, and became wrapped in the 
most profound and soul-sickening medita- 


tion. A once familiar voice suddenly 

startled him from his reverie : — 

0 

“ Why, man * what makes you look so 
down in the chops? Brave up, and take 
somethin’ — you’ll feel better” — and the 
stranger rudely twirled the empty mug upon 
the table. 

Bill looked up, and immediately recog- 
nized Jarvis, the locksmith, whom he had 
not seen since the eventful night w hen he 
overheard the conspiracy to rob the iron 
chest. He could not resist the proffered 
hand of Jarvis, who imipediately seated 
himself by his side. 

At the seemingly friendly importunities 
of Jarvis, Bill was induced to relate a his- 
tory of all his trouble, and to speak of the 
poverty which weighed so heavily upon 
him. 

“ Pooh, pooh, man!” exclaimed Jarvis 
— “ there’s no need of all that ! See here 
I always have money enough” — and the 
burglar drew from his pocket a handful of 
guineas, and shook them gaily in Darling- 
ton’s face. 

Bill sadly smiled —he comprehended too 
well the manner in which such wealth was 
obtained. Oh, how he needed money ! — 
but could he ever become a robber .'—Bill 
still doubted. 

Jarvis ordered fresh potations, and Bill 
gradually lost his air of sorrow, and became 
more tractable to the seductive and flatter- 
ing wiles of the shrewd villain who w'as 
tracing out for him so unenviable a destiny. 

“ Come, what say, Bill— you can never 
do better!” finally remarked his evil ge- 
nius, as he slapped him on the back — “ We 
never plunder anybody but the 'rich old co- 
veys, and they can afford to lose a little 
now T and then for the benefit of us pool 
folks who can’t get an honest living 
There’s no sort of use in letting the w'o 
men or babies starve to death, when there’* 
plenty of gold to be had. Now you’d make 
a glorious pal, Bill, and with your work- 
man’s skill we could drep into every ban- 


OF BRISTOL B1L1 


ker's vault in London. Just keep a still 
tongue, and a stiff lip, and old Bow street 
never’ll trouble us. I must introduce you 
to our boys tonight — I s’ pose you are ready 
to be initiated, aint you, my brave chap 1” 

Bill gave a faint reply in the affirmative, 
but his heart almost failed him. 

Jarvis put a guinea in his hand, and ex- 
acted a promise that Bill should meet him 
that evening, at a certain hour, at the 
King’s Arms, a dingy little public house in 
one of the most wretched quarters of Lon- 
don. 

Darlington, as he tottered homeward, 
felt that he was an altered man. But he 
looked again and again at the golden 
guinea in his hand, and thought of the 
comforts it would bring to Ins uncomforta- 
ble home. He reasoned to himself that 
Mary would be so happy — she would never 
know but that he had met with a new 
streak of luck : n the way of honest labor, 
and he would not hear again his little chil- 
dren, whom he fondly loved, cry piteously 
lor food and nourishment. 

Purchising a number of little articles, 
comforts that he had not possessed for 
a considerable length of time, Bill could 
not resist a slight feeling of joy as he 
thought of the glad heart of Mary, when 
ahe should meet him on his return. The 
home of Darlington that night was indeed 
a scene of revived happiness. 

At the appointed hour, Bill wended his 
way through a number of dark streets and 
gloomy alleys, until he arrived before the 
door of the King’s Arms. All was revel- 
ry within, and through the smoky windows 
Bill could see the motley crew that were 
drinking anti carousing, and making the 
murky atmosphere resound with their vile 
laugnter and horrible oaths. 

Darlington paused. Had he come to 
this? — was he hereafter to consort with rob- 
bers, and be one of that outlawed class who 
preyed upon the better order of mankind ! 

But the guinea -th*t charmed guinea— 


n 

put in his Land by Jarvis- -over which he 
had gloated, and which had brought food 
and warm garments to Mary and her babes 
— that fatal guinea swam before his eyes 
and knocked within his breast ! There 
were more such guineas in the world, and 
he must have them ? 

Entering the door, he boldly advanced 
into the principal room, and glanced about 
in search of Jarvis. Not seeing him, he re- 
turned to the hall door, when he was sud- 
denly touched on the shoulder, and, turn- 
ing round, met the object of his search. 

“ Come with me,” said Jarvis — and 
they entered a small room, where three 
men sat at a table, drinking, and convers- 
ing in low tones. They eyed Bill closely, 
as Jarvis carelessly introduced him as his 
“friend.'” Liquor was ".ailed for, and Jar- 
vis, taking Bill into a corner most distant 
from the other party, resumed a conversa- 
tion similar to that which had taken place 
during the day. 

The burglar evidently satisfied himself 
that Bill would prove no “flunkey,” and 
that he was ready to be initiated into the 
mysteries of the gang known as “Blue 
Boys.” 

In a sho^t time, the three men first dis- 
covered in the room rose and departed, in 
quiring of Jarvis, as they went out — 

“Is it not most time ?” 

“Soon,” was the brief reply. 

Jarvis congratulated Bill on the good 
prospect before him and urged him to be 
surprised at nothing in their mode of in- 
itiation, but to go through it all like a man . 

Bill assured his patron that he was pre 
pared for anything — even if it was to meet 
the devil himself. 

Jarvis seemed to relish Bill’s last re- 
mark, and, draining his glass, said it was 
now time for them to be moving — they 
mustn’t keep the boys waiting, for they had 
plenty of other work to do. 

Leaving the King’s Arms, they proceed- 
ed through dismal lanes which Bill had 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


16 

Merer before traversed, towards the rendez- 
vous of the “Blue Boys.” 


CHAPTER VI. 

THE “ REACH ” OF THE “ BLUE BOYS ” 
— THE INITIATION — APPEARANCE OF THE 
GANG — CAPTAIN KIT - — BILL’S FIRST 
ROBBERY. 

The “ Reach,” (as the Blue Boys styled 
their rendezvous,) viewed from the out- 
side, appeared to be one of the oldest hou- 
ses in London. It was built of wood, and 
was now fast crumbling to decay. But the 
interior had often been repaired, and had a 
certain air of comfort not at all reconcilable 
with' the miserable state of its outer wall. 

Jarvis carefully surveyed the premises, 
and then, stepping to the door, gave two or 
three low knocks. Bill heard a sound 
within, as if an iron bar was being removed, 
and the door opened. All was dark — a 
word was whispered, and Jarvis, taking his 
protege by the hand, led him through a 
dark and narrow passage, until he sudden- 
ly bade him halt and stand still until he 
returned. Bill heard his friend groping 
jor a door, which was soon openedf and all 
was stil'l as the grave. 

After remaining some time in anxious 
suspense, a light streamed through the 
passage, and Jarvis advanced, bidding 
Darlington to follow. They entered an 
old but well furnished apartment, where no 
person was visible but an old crone who 
sat by the fire-place, smoking an ancient 
pipe, and who took no notice of those who 
entered. Her eyes were fixed sullenly on 
the hearth over which she bent, and her white 
hair streamed all unbound over her w ithered 
shoulders. At the sides of the room were 
a number of tables, on which were empty 
glasses and mugs, and all denoted that the 
apartment had but recently been vacated by 
quite a party of persons. 


Jarvis told Bill to stand firm, for he w* 
now about to be introduced to a jolly set o 
fellows, whom, if he did not fancy theii 
appearance at first, he would not dislike on 4 
better acquaintance. The burglar then 
proceeded to tie Bill’s hands behind him, 
and to bandage his eyes, having done which 
he conducted him silently out of the room, 
and down a narrow flight of stairs. Bill 
knew by the dampness of the place, that 
that they were in a subterranean apartment 
and, by the distance they had descended, 
far below the surface of the street. A few 
yards were traversed as they reached the 
ground, and then came another pause 
Three distinct raps were given, and a hea 
vy iron door was heard to creak on its 
hinges. Although thickly blindfolded, Bill 
felt that he was now in a room brilliantly 
illuminated ; and by the buzz that met his 
ear, he knew that there was no small num- 
ber of persons around him. 

“ Silence !” said Jarvis, in a tonedenot 
ing authority. He then continued — 
“ Boys, here is a friend who will make a 
true and faithful Blue. He is ready for in- 
itiation, and will now take the oath which 
has never been broken by any one of our 
gallant number. Priest, come forward !” 

A man was heard to advance, who soon, 
in a deep guttural voice, proceeded to ad- 
minister an oath of secresy and of obedience, 
which, for inhuman ideas of penalty and 
for shocking terms of language, could not 
be exceeded in the infernal invention of the 
most notorious writers of immoral fiction. 
Bill was obliged to repeat it all, sentence by 
sentence ; and when near the close, his 
hands were loosened from behind — one 
placed upon his heart, and the other upon 
what seemed to be the crossed blades ol 
two huge knives. 

This ceremony was finished, and the 
bandage was quickly removed from his 
eyes. Bill, at the sight that met his view, 
started with invo’junlary horror — but it was 
onlv momentary and he then stood unmov 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


r. 


*1, gazing calmly on those about him. 
Forming a close circle around Darlington, 
stood, in every variety of threatening posi- 
tion, some twenty mCn of the most forbid- 
ding appearance. Each held ' in the air a 
glistening blade, or pointed at the head of 
the new initiate a brace of heavy pistols. 
Bill looked scornfully at their device to try 
his courage, and in a few minutes the wea- 
pons dropped, and he was grasped by the 
hand by each and all of the gang in turn. 
He was congratulated on his bold entrance 
to a new career, and informed that he must 
obey all commands, of their chief, who 
was now introduced to Bill in thi person 
of Jarvis, under the cognomen of Captain 
Kit. 

Darlington received the congratulations 
of his new friends with considerable graci- 
ousnes.and a bumper was drank in his honor. 
The whole party then adjourned to the 
apartment above, where the old crone was 
roused from her lethargy by the fireside to 
attend to the various wants of the party, 
many of who a seemed disposed to spend 
the night in carousal, while others departed 
singly or in couples, probably on expedi- 
tions connected with their profession. 

Jarvis, or Captain Kit, toox Bill aside, 
and gave him much information concerning 
the previous operations of the gang — des- 
cribed the plans usually pursued, when a 
great “ haul ” was to be made — imparted 
some instruction as to how they avoided 
detection — and told many a glowing tale 
of booty divided, and the rich shares that 
fell to the members. Whenever a robbery 
was committed, the plunder was immediate- 
ly conveyed to the Reach, put in possession 
of the captain, and at regular periods the 
whole was divided in equal shares. The 
gang was undei the supreme control of the 
chief, who directed all movements, and 
&ent men hither and thither as he had ocr 
casion, or as he gleaned intelligence of 
opportunities to commit depredation. The 
Captain concluded, by assuring Bill that if 


he would follow his directions, he would 
soon become a “ tip-top cracksman.” 

Bill was now fairly in the net. He had 
gradually become a criminal at heart, if no 
in act. He had too long, in despair and 
desperation, suffered his mind to dwell on 
dishonest themes, and ta drearn over vague 
plans of obtaining morey for himself and 
family. And this night, he had freely 
drank of the liquor proffered by his new 
companions, until he felt ready, under the 
inspiring influence of Captain Kit, to under- 
take anything suggested by the chief. 

It was now after midnight. Kit looked 
hastily at the time-piece, and started to his 
feet. 

“Bill,” said he, “I’ve got a job on 
hand to-night, and instead of my taking one 
of the old boys, you had better go w ; ith 
me.” 

Assent was given, and Bill was armed 
with a pistol and a large clasp-knife- such 
as he had seen in the hands of the gang at 
the time of his initiation. 

We’ve got a complete workshop down 
beneath,” said Kit, “ where we make our 
tools and keys. See here — here’s one of 
my work ; and what’s more, it will fetch the 
swag to’ night.” So saying, he drew from 
his pocket a large key, which Bill curious- 
ly examined. 

“ Well, what is this fori” asked th* 
novitiate. 

“ Come with me, and you’ll see, was 
the reply. And the Captain stepped to a 
cupboard, took out a short iron bar curious- 
ly fashioned, put it under his coat, and 
commanded Bill to follow him. 

Threading their silent way through the 
deserted streets, they gradually approached 
the Thames docks, where the large mer- 
cantile establishments reared their lofty 
roofs in the black shades of night. Fre- 
quently would they stop, while the captain 
bent down aad listened. But nothing was 
heard save the distant echoes of their own 
footsteps. After a while, the captain cau 


18 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


tiened Bill that they were near the build- 
ing they were to enter. Bidding him halt, 
and stand in the shade of a doorway, until 
he heard a low whistle, Kit crept forward 
to survey the premises. Bill shortly heard 
the signal, and stepped stealthily in the 
Captain’s direction. Kit expressed him- 
self satisfied that no one was near to 
molest them. 

Near where they stood was a very high 
oaken gate, opening to a narrow passage 
between two large warehouses. The Cap- 
tain advanced to the gate, and taking out 
his iron bar, he jammed the sharp end of it 
between the edge of the gate aud the cas- 
ing, and with one strong wrench this bar- 
rier to their progress was overcome. A 
few T moments more of watching and listen- 
ing, and the pair proceeded down the alley 
a few yards, and again stopped. 

“I’ve been getting ready for this job a 
se’n-night,” said Captain Kit. “Tfiis win- 
dow opens into the countin’ house. I made 
up some business to go in there this morn- 
ing and I know just how everything lays.” 

The window was guarded by heavy shut- 
ters, but they afforded the same vain resist- 
ance as the gate. A pane of glass was 
quickly broken, the sash was raised, and all 
was clear. 

“ Now Bill, you’ve got to learn some- 
time,” said Kit, “so you may as well do 
the rest of this ’ere business.” The cap- 
tain drew' a very small dark lantern from 
his pocket, and also a tinder box. Hand- 
ing them to Bill, togther with the key he 
had before shown him, Kit continued — 
“Now, Bill, you crawl in at the window, 
and when you get in strike a light ; the big 
chest is under the desk in a corner — that 
’ere key I’m d— d sure will fit it — clear the 
old box of its heavy bags, but don’t “pull” 
anything else.” 

Bill stood for a moment without reply- 
ing. He was ready to commit a crime — 
but perhaps he momentarily realized his 
now degraded position, and 6ome “com- 


punctious visitings of conscience” might 
have fluttered in his breast. 

“ Why, man,” exclaimed the captain, 
somewhat piqued, “ you ain’t saying youi 
prayers, are you? Here, I’ll help you in V 

Bill recovered himself, and before Kit 
could give him a helping hand, with a 
single spring he was in the counting-house. 

Once inside, Bill perhaps for a moment 
trembled. All was utter darkness — all was 
silent as the dreary tomb. His ear ached, 
as he vainly endeavored to catch the slight- 
est sound. He felt that he was alone— 
that the contemplated deed might be per- 
formed in safety. But, as the first feeble 
flame glimmered on his candle, he saw the 
face of his own — Mary ! No, it was but a 
flashing dream. Oh, umuld to God — 
thought Darlington — I were anywhere but 
here ! 

“ What the d — 1 makes you so long!” 
came a shrill w'hisper in at the window ; 
and Bill began to look about him for the 
chest. In a corner of the counting-house, 
under a massive oaken desk, he found the 
depository of the merchant’s treasure. Bill 
took the key from his pocket, and kneeling 
down upon the sanded floor, he inserted it 
in the lock — he then lightly turned it, but 
it made some resistance. “ It does not fit,” 
thought Darlington. 

“ For G — d’s sake, what are you about? 
Be quick !” — came again the devil’s whis- 
per through the window. 

Bill, in desperation, grasped the key, 
gave a powerful wrench, and the bolt flew 
back. Holding his open lantern before him, 
he slowly raised the lid of the chest. There 
were the little leathern bags before him, 
and he knew that they contained gold 
Oh, wealth unutterable ! Bill convulsh >• 
ly clasped the nearest portion of the prize, 
and held the yellow b3g up to the light. 
“ 100 g.,” in black letters, met his eye. 
But there were much larger bags in the 
chest, and Bill began to take them out. 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


It 


H Have you got the old box open ?” came 
the hissing voice of Captain Kit. 

Bill set his lantern on the floor, and 
grasping several of the bags of gold, he 
rushed to the window, and deposited them 
in the outstretched hands of the robber 
chief. 

“ Go it, my prave pal !” exultingly ex- 
claimed the captain — “ Don’t leave more’n 
one little chap for a nest egg !” 

Darlington returned to the chest, and in 
a very short space of time the whole booty 
was passed into the possession of Captain 
Kit. Emerging from the window, the 
shutters were closed, and Bill took a por- 
tion of the treasure they had so skilfully 
obtained. 

Slowly and cautiously creeping through 
the streets, the successful burglars finally 
armed at the Reach, where their booty 
was stored in a dark vault adjoining the 
lower cellar in which Bill had received his 
initiation. 

As Bill’s arms were relieved of their 
golden burden, he breathed freer, and be- 
gan to thing of home. It was the first 
time he had ever been absent from Mary at 
night, and what would she say ! But crime 
had tainted his whole soul, and he now 
must tell the first lie that ever found its re- 
luctant way to the innocent ear of Mary 
Livingston — the fondly loving woman who 
was now the unconscious partner of a con- 
firmed robber, and the mother of an outlaw’s 
children. 

No doubt that vain remorse crawled like 
a hideous serpent in William Darlington’s 
breast, as he bent his weary footsteps 
homeward. But Kit, as he left, had plac- 
ed more golden guineas in his hand, and 
Bill rattled them cheerily in his pocket. It 
was music ‘o his ear, but more like the 
sorrowful dirge over departed virtue 


* 


CHAPTER VIL. 

DARLINGTON AT HOME — ELECTED CAPTAIN 

OF THE BLUE BOYS SEPARATION OF TUN 

GANG A GREAT ROBBERY FLIGHT Or 

THE BURGLARS. 

The sombre shadows of night were fast 
disappearing under the influence of the ad- 
vancing morn, when Darlington entered the 
silent abode of all that was dear to him on 
earth. 

Mary sprang to his arms with joy, and 
kissed his pale and haggard face. Sleep- 
less had been the night to her, and she was 
weary with anxious watching. Where had 
William been ] — But the question remain- 
unanswered. 

The burglar threw his tired form upon 
the bed, and slumbered until nearly mid- 
day. Waking, he found a warm and am- 
ple meal, which his fond wife had refused 
to touch until William could sit opposite 
to her, at the little unpainted table, and en- 
joy with hor the nice food that he had pur- 
chased with his golden guinea — that 
guinea, alas ! so fatal to the destiny of a 
once honest man. 

Months passed away. William was a 
skilful and daring burglar. His naturally 
open and generous disposition, together 
with his shrewdness and bold exploits, had 
made him a favorite with the Blue Boys, 
who now looked upon him as the leading 
“ crossman” of their gang. 

It would be vain — and, in truth, it would 
be hardly in our power — to recapitulate the 
many and various scenes through which 
Darlington passed at this period of his crim- 
inal career. But Jarvis, alias Captain Kit, 
had become, as the leading members of the 
gang learned, a “spotted man” among the 
police, who were fast following on his 
trail. This information was derived from 
those interesting personages denominated 
“ fences,” or individuals whose business it 
was to buy stolen goods and receive and 
dispose of stolen money. The peril wa* 


te 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


bo imminent to the Blue Boys, that it wasj 
resolved that Captain Kit should take to j 
himself a large share of the spoi/s in their 
possession, and flee from the country. He 
did so, aud his after fate has ever since re- 
main-^ a profound mystery. 

Suffice it to say, Bill was immediately 
and unanimously chosen their leader; all 
danger seemed averted, and they commenc- 
ed a system of plunder on a most magnifi- 
cent scale. Thousands of pounds sterling 
found its way to the secret vaults of the 
Robbers’ Reach. Every street corner in 
London was emblazoned with big placards, 
offering heavy rewards for the detection of 
robbers and the recovery of stolen property. 
At a division of plunder, about this tijne, 
Bill's own share amounted to some two 
thousand pounds sterling, (or near ten 
thousand dollars American.) His impov- 
erished home had put on the garb .of neat- 
ness and comfort — Mary thought him most 
successful in some honest .pursuit, and her 
pale cheeks began to assume the roseate 
tints of health and happiness. 

But such an astonishing career of crime 
could not always meet with a favorable 
issue. Long success had emboldened the 
Blue^Boys to such a degree, that they be- 
came careless and reckless in each day’s 
enterprise. Sporting the finest clothes, 
they entered the most fashionable places of 
amusement in London— spent their money 
freely, and, when inebriated, spoke openly 
of the easy manner in which they obtained 
their wealth. 

Only a few of the gang, under the cool 
leadership of Bill, remained steadfastly en- 
gaged in their unlawful profession. But 
they were doomed to suffer, partly through 
the incaution and recklessness of the remain- 
der of the gang, but quite as much from 
their own daring and as'ounding exploits. 

Caotain Bill, (as he was called by his 
comrades,) with now but half a dozen con- 
federates, were the sole tenants of the old 
“Reach,* A great and final robbery was 


; contemplated; and it was then the intention 
| of Bill to gather together his ill-gotten 
gains, and depart with his family for 
America. But the success to which he 
had become so accustomed, and which seem- 
ed almost the natural insult of his unlawful 
enterprises, was now destined to vanish, 
and in its stead to bring penalty and dis- 
aster. [! 

One of the principal batik ing-houses in 
London was selected as the scene of their 
last effort, and the robbers for several weeks 
used the utmost diligence in studying all 
peculiarities on the premises, and thorough- 
ly learning the entire locality. Bill, with 
his gentlemanly appearance, and with the 
money he so easily commanded, not un fre- 
quently made apparent business at the bank- 
ing-house, and while there, amidst the 
hurry and bustle of ’ change hours, his 
sharp eye rapidly observed the situation of 
the vault, and the strength of all the doors 
leading from the outside. At different 
times, Bill or his accomplices succeeded in 
taking wax impressions from the locks of 
the outer doors, and they finally were satis- 
fied that they had all the keys necessary to 
afford them access by night to the interior of 
the .banking-rooms. Strict w atch also sa- 
tisfied them that no person lodged in the 
buifding, and that the police, as they w ent 
their rounds, could be easily avoided. All 
things were now prepared, and the skilful 
burglars w aited only for a dark and stormy 
night to carry their matured plans into 
operation. 

The cold fog and drizzle of a November 
midnight dampened not the determined ar- 
dor of Bill and t wo of his most trusty con- 
federates, as they sallied forth on their da 
ring mission. Equipped with every in 
strument that their ingenuity had manufac 
tured for the purposp, it was now the expec- 
tation of the party to commit the most ex 
tensive robbery that had ever astounded 
the business community, or shocked the 
authorities of London. It was in the secret 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


21 


cellar ot the Blue Boye’s Reach, that were 
invented many of those singular specimens 
of ingenious mechanism — “ billies ” and 
“jimmies,” “jacks,” “braces,” and 
“ bits,” — that have for the last twenty 
years formed the paraphernalia of a bur- 
glar’s outfit — and samples of which have 
not unfrequently been captured, and formed 
conspicuous curiosities not only in the 
“ police-office museums ” of London, Edin 
burgh and Glasgow, but in the transatlantic 
cities of New York and Boston. 

We need not here relate the cautious 
creeping of the gang towards their desti- 
nation. All this, the reader can readily 
imagine. 

Arrived at the door ot the banking-house, 
after satisfying himself that the London 
night-watch had no representatives at pre- 
sent in that, quarter, Bill ordered one of his 
company to keep “ watch and ward ” on 
the outside, while he and the other confede- 
rate entered the building, and “ snatched 
the plunder.” Bill's keys had not been 
fitted by any unskilful hands, and he readi- 
ly found his way to the innei counting- 
room of the house. From underneath 
their great coats, they then drew forth 
their small but powerful tools, with the 
expectation of being obliged to force the 
door of the iron vault. Bill, however, 
first bethought him that ‘he would e.xamine 
the lock — but he did somewhat unconscious- 
ly, almost a matter of curiosity. By hold- 
ing a candle to the key-hole, wha,t was his 
surprise to fin 1 that the lock was a sample 
of the identical one he had invented while 
in the service of Mr. Burns. He knew 
too well the interior mechanism of its holts 
and wards to require the assistance of. any, 
heavier tool than a small steel rod which he 
drew from his pocket, Inserting this in 
the key-hole, he began to “ peg away,” 
without uttering a word to his comrade, 
who' stood in amazement and admiration at 
the cool and quirt proceedings of his chief. 
Presently the “ Priest,” for it was no 


other than he, heard the sound of a bolt as 
it flew back in its socket — a moment more, 
and “ snap ” went another. The door of 
the vault was open, and Bill and the Pries! 
entered. 

Here was enough to excite the cupidity 
of a monarch. Here was gold anil silver, 
in stout bags and small thick boxes— here 
were bundles of notes on the Bank of Eng- 
land, and business papers of immense 
value. The adventurous twain deliberate- 
ly ransacked the contents of the vault, and 
proceeded to make a very judicious selec- 
tion of such wealth as would be least apt 
to lead to their detection. 

We will lightly pass over the incidents 
of this transaction. Suffice it to say, that 
ere the next twenty-four hours had passed 
into unredeemed space, the London journals 
recorded the imperfect particulars of a great 
and most astounding robbery. A large re- 
ward was offered, and the police were or 
the alert. The sum said to be stolen wai 
thirty thousand pounds. The banking- 
house, which had been robbed, was closed, 
and the thousand friends and creditors of 

-f : * 1 1 1 * 

the institution were in a perfect tremor con- 
cerning the redemption of their deposited 
funds. Merchants and bankers were all 
alive to the excitement attendant on this 
great development of crime, and the chiefs 
of the London police were on the qm vivt 
to ferret out the operators ip, the transac- 
tion. All this time, William Darlington, 
(or Captain Bill, of the Blue Boys,) was 
quietly, making his ariangements for leav- 
ing London vith his family and booty. And 
there can be no doubt that he would have 
successfully accomplished his object, but 
for the untoward circumstance we are 
about to mention. 

As we said before, most of the gang, 
elated with their long success and present 
wealth, had neglect.ed the customs and au- 
thority of their outlawed association and ita 
chief, and were spending their booty in the 
most frequent and popular resorts in Lon- _ 


22 


LIFE AND 

don. This portion of the gang, of course, 
in common with every one else, read and 
heard with interest of the particulars of the 
late robbery, and, one evening, while their 
caution was drowned in drink, declared 
openly that the “ haul” must have been 
made by Captain Bill — for nobody else did 
such “ pulling business” in the way that 
this was accounted to be done. The remark 
was not lost upon those who were near by. 
There were two Bow street officers, who 
sat near at hand, in the crowded ale-house, 
sipping stupidly from their mugs, apparent- 
ly unconscious if all that was going on 
around them. But their ears were wide 
open — they knew what they were about, 
and they took note of all that passed. In a 
corner of the room, not far distant, sat a 
grim and grey-haired man, with his pot of 
beer before him, lost, it would seem, in 
his own earnest meditation. But under 
that slouched hat and those false locks 
gleamed piercing eyes, and teemed listening 
ears. It was Captain Bill, who with his 
innate shrewdness and knowledge of the 
cdreless conduct of the deserters from his 
gang, kept track of their whereabouts, and 
preserved a strict watch on all their move- 
ments. Bill knew, also, the persons of 
the two Bow street officers, and he felt that 
the “game was up” with him and his fol- 
lowers. A few more such careless words 
as had dropped from the lips of the intoxi- 
cated burglars, and the police would derive 
information sufficient to put them immedi- 
ately upon his trail. Putting on an air of 
inebriation, Bill rose arfd slowly staggered 
Dut of the room. Once outside, he stood a 
moment, to see that no one had followed 
him, and then struck a hasty pace towards 
the Reach. 

Arriving at the door of the now almost 
deserted rendezvous, the old crone gave him 
entrance, and he immediately descended to 
the underground apartment, where by good 
luck, he found all of his remaining com- 
rade*. In hasty words, he related to them 


EXPLOITS 

the scene that was occurring at the ale- 
house, and earnestly warned them that the 
danger was imminent — suggesting an im- 
mediate division of their spoils, and instant 
flight. Bill stated his own determination 
to flee to America, and was desirous that 
the Priest should accompany him; while, 
if the others chose the same destination, he 
advised that they should take different port* 
of embarkation. 

All the immense plunder in the Read 
was brought forth, and an equitable divis 
ion of the same was quickly made. Bill 
estimates the value of his share at that 
time to have been some .£40,000, or $200,- 
000 — at any rate enough to have made him 
quite a wealthy and respectable gentleman, 
could he have escaped to this country with- 
out detection. 

But time was fast passing away, and 
Bill feared the almost inevitable pursuit of 
the police. The robbers gathered their 
booty together, and, with a trepidation they 
had seldom experienced, gave a hearty fare- 
well to their captain, and left the premises. 
The Priest agreed to meet Bill in Liverpool 
on a certain day, and then departed. 

The Captain was the last burglar left in 
the Reach. With his heavy load of plun- 
der, he slowly ascended the stairs, and 
entered the main room, where sat, dozing 
before the fire, the old hag who for many 
years had been the mistress of the robbers’ 
den. 

Leaning over her shoulder, Bill said 
kindly — “ Aunt, we’re all about to leave 
you. Within twenty-four hours, the hounds 
will be after us ; — they will come here and 
search the premises.” 

The only reply of the crone was a sort of 
low “ Umph!” which rather signified in- 
difference to anything that might occur. 

“Can I do anything for you. Aunt!’* 
proceeded Bill — “ you want money don’t 
you !” 

No reply came from the old woman, aa 
she rocked herself slowly over the hearth— 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


S3 


an old pipe in her mouth, and her head 
bowed down. 

“ Well, you must take this,” said the 
robber chief — “ You will want for food, 
ami gin, and tobacco ; and if you don’t 
have money, what will you do?” And he 
took from his burden a bag of gold, and put 
it in her lap. The woman seemed for a 
moment to be more conscious of what was 
going on, and tightly clutched the bag in 
her bony fingers. 

“ Are you going?” she finally muttered. 

“ Yes,” answered Bill, as he strode 
hastily from the room — “ Good bye, my old 
dame!” 

No response came, and Darlington, for 
the last time, left the Reach of the Blue 
Boys. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

BILL GOES TO LIVERPOOL— PREPARES TO 

LEAVE FOR AMERICA BILL AND THE 

PRIEST ARE ARRRESTED DARING ES- 

CAPE FROM LIVERPOOL JAIL. 

Hurrying homeward, Darlington med.ita 
ted a plan of escape. There was no time 
to lose — but the question arose, what 
•hould he do with Mary! If he took her 
with him, she would retard his arrange- 
ments and impede his progress. His de- 
termination was sudden but unalterable. 
He would make a plausible excuse for 
going a long journey — leave her ample 
resources in the way of money, and, when 
safely arrived in America, send for her to 
join him. 

Trunks were procured, and packed with 
his stolen wealth, and Darlington was 
ready for departure. The farewell scene 
between him and Mary was touching in the 
extreme. Copious tears were shed, as he 
kissed his children for the last time, and 
with almost frantic energy the burglar tore 
hunk if away from all that he loved. 

He was on his wav to Liveroool. No 


one would have supposed from his appear- 
ance that he was other than a gentleman of 
wealth and accomplishments, travelling 
perhaps on business or for pleasure. Al- 
ways self-possessed, nothing in his manner 
was ever likely to betray him. But he 
knew that he was running a gauntlet of 
danger. At every tavern by the road side, 
where the coach stopped at intervals for a 
change of horses, Bill noticed the placards 
on the walls, offering a great reward for 
the detection of those who committed the 
last robbery of such magnitude in London 
So far as known, no clue to the burglars 
had as yet been obtained. The robbery was 
the theme of travellers, and the country 
people listened with staring eyes and open 
ears to the many marvellous tales that were 
told of the w T ay in which the robbers had 
obtained entrance to the banking-house. 
All this was quite edifying to Bill, who oc- 
casionally took part in the conversation, 
and exercised his natural roguery and in- 
vention in relating a number of extravagant 
and wmnderful incidents as being connected 
wfith the robbery, all of which was greedily 
swallowed by his eager listeners. 

On arriving in Liverpool, Mr. Conyng- 
ham (as Bill called himself,) took lodgings 
at one of the principal hotels, and forthwith 
proceeded to engage passage for New York 
in a packet ship that w r as to sail in a few 
days. The next day, the Priest made his 
appearance, and brought intelligence that 
members of the London police had left town 
for some of the principal sea-ports, and that 
one had even come up to Liverpool in the 
same coach with him. Here, then, was 
| need of all their circumspection. 

The day before the packet was to sail, as 
Bill and his favorite “ pal” were saunter- 
ing through one of the principal streets, 
what w'as their surprise to suddenly hear 
behind them a familiar but drunken voice 
exclaim — 

! “ Why, d — n my eyes, if there ain’t 

; Captain Bill and the Priest!” 


34 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


Great was the chagrin of Bill, on turning 
around, to discover two of his old gang 
whom he had left in London — both in a 
state of intoxication. Grasping his hand 
rudely, they swore they were not yet going 
to leave him. Bill, however, shook them 
off, and earnestly remonstrated with them 
for their conduct — cautioning them that if 
they did not behave more discreetly they 
would ruin both themselves knd him. The 
ourglars whom he addressed, though good- 
natured, were boisterous in their manner, 
and the captain, afraid of attracting public 
attention, hurried trom them. 

This little incident, however, had not 
been unnoticed by a lynx-eyed man who had 
been quietly follovving the drunken robbers 
ever since morning. He heard them, as they 
exclaimed “Captain Bill!” and the title 
was not unfamiliar to his ears. Therefore, 
w’hen Bill and the Priest started for their 
hotel, the police detector followed. He ob- 
lerved every movement, and in the course 
cf the day learned that they were recently 
from London, that their baggage was large 
and heavy, and they were preparing to em- 
bark for America. The officer had a full 
description of the money recently stolen, 
and was in possession of many little partic- 
ulars, gleaned .from the drunken confes- 
sions of some of the Blue Boys, which 
tended to convince him that he had now the 
two principal participators in the late rob- 
bery within his grasp. 

In company with two Liverpool officers,' 
the London policeman that afternoon pro- 
ceeded to the hotel, and inquired if Mr. 
Conyngham was in, and requested to be 
shown to his room. 

Bill and the Priest were for a moment 
startled, as the officers entered their apart- 
ment. They felt that detection was come, 
and all their hopes were blasted. It was the 
first time that Darlington had ever felt the 
arresting hand of an officer laid if£on his 
shoulder. His lip quivered but, for an in- 
stant, and then die expression of his face 


betokened nothing but coolness and reso- 
lution. 

The burglars were abruptly informed ot 
the reason of their arrest, and the police 
then proceeded to hand-cuff them. 

“ Well,” said the Priest, “ I didn’t ex 
pect to wear the darbies quite so soon ! Mr; 
Conyngham, what do you think of the iron 
wristbands?” and the priest smiled, at his 
own attempt at a joke. 

Bill coolly replied — “ I don’t think ’em 
very pretty ornaments for a gentleman’s 
hand.” 

The officers winked at each other mys- 
teriously, and one of them whispered— 
“Oh, you may depend on’t, they’re old 
birds!” They then began to examine the 
baggage of the two travelling gentlemen, 
and soon had the satisfaction of discovering 
more than enough to prove participation in 
merely one of the great robberies that had 
taken place in London. “This will be a 
fine feather in my cap,” seemed to think 
the London policeman, as he coolly sur- 
veyed the enormous plunder. 

The burglars were then conveyed to 
prison, and it was understood that they 
would be carried to London the next day 
All Liverpool was agog ; for the news 
spread like lightning, that two of the great- 
est London burglars had just been arrested 
at the Swan Hotel. The streets were 
thronged with a motley crowd of persons 
old and young, as the fettered culprits, in 
charge of the officers, emerged from the 
hotel, and passed on their way to the Bride- 
well. Every eye was strained to catch a 
glimpse of the prisoners, and various were 
the comments on their appearance that met 
the ears of both. The Priest laughed good- 
naturedly in the faces of the bystanders who 
stood with outstretched necks, gaping aa 
they would at wild animals in a menagerie. 
But the stern features of the captaih were 
Unmoved, and his dark eye met calmly the 
gaze of the pressing crowd. 

The prisoners ’ were ushered to then 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


gloomy cell. Bill remained taciturn, and 
seemed completely lost to everything around 
him, while even the jolly disposition of the 
Priest seemed tt) have departed'. But the 
latter soon began to move about, and ap- 
peared to be earnestly studying the securi- 
ties of the place. The cell was about ten 
feet square — having no outlets but the 
heavy iron door, and a small grated win- 
dow about eight feet from the floor. 

“ Say, captain,” said the Priest after a 
long period of silence — “ don’t you believe 
we can get out of this infernal hole?” 

Bill suddenly started, as if a new idea 
flashed upon his mind. He gave a ques- 
tioning look at the Priest, but made no re- 
ply. 

“ See here,” continued the other— “ I 
can slip my darbies” — and , suiting the ac- 
tion to the word, he dexterously twisted 
his hands, and the iron cuffs dropped from 
his wrists. 

The captain sprang to his feet with an 
exclamation of surprise, and soon, with 
the assistance of his comrade, his own hands 
fell free at his side. 

Bill then began tq examine for himself 
the strength of their cell. But he felt it 
was in vain to endeavor to seek egress 
from the door. The lock could not be 
reached from the inside, and he knew too 
well the mechanism of such an affair to at- 
tempt an escape in that quarter. An ex- 
amination of fhe stone walls satisfied .them 
that the jail was an old one ; with the 
handcuffs they, believed that, had they time, 
they could eyen force a sufficient aperture; 
in the wall— but they had only a few hours 
to work in, and they must be quick. 

Pulling a little bench to the wall, and 
setting it on an end, Bill mounted to the 
window, which was about two feet wide, 
and apparently strongly guarded by thick 
iron bars. Bill peered through the win- 
dow, and r saw that it was but an easy jump 
to the ground. A few feet distant there 
was a high wall, and he felt conscious. 


S5 

from the frequent rumbling of wheels, that 
this was the only barrier between the pris- 
on and the street. Grasping one of the 
window gratings, he found it to be a little 
loose in its socket. 

“ Here, my pious pal !” exclaimed the 
captain — “just pass me up one of those 
darbies, and I’ll soon see wliat this stone 
and mortar is made of ! ” 

Having received the uncouth tool, he 
began cautiously and with as little noise 
as possible to pick out and knock away the 
crumbling cement and stones that formed a 
Socket for the end of one of the gratings. 
Bill every few minutes would stop and 
listen, and the Priest would apply his eat 
to the door, but they, heard no sounds that 
would lead them to believe they had so far 
been detected. Pretty soon, one end of a 
bar was free, and with a powerful wrench 
the other followed. Bill jumped to the 
floor, and waved the heavy iron over his 
head in triumph. But one more was to be 
removed, and the Captain directed the 
Priest to* finish the job. In the meantime, 
Bill made himself very busy in tearing up 
some of the under-garments of himself and 
pal, and twisting them into a sort of clum- 
sy rope. In one end, he tied a large frag- 
ment of stone, and then pronounced hi* 
work complete. 

The second grating, after a good deal of 
hard work on the part of the Priest, was 
removed, and the aperture was sufficiently 
large to admit, of their crawling through. 

When the neighboring chu^h clock was 
heard to strike, eleven, Bill volunteered to 
lead the way, and mounted to the window. 
With difficulty crawling through the open- 
ing, he put out his head to survey , the 
scene as well as the faint light of the moon 
would permit. The wall in front of him 
appeared to be the rear boundary of the 
prison, and if this should prove so, Bill 
thought, the chances, of escape were verv 
good. 

It required a good deal of bending 


26 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


•queezing to get his body into such a posi- 
tion that he should not drop to. the ground 
head foremost. He finally succeeded, and 
soon found himself on terra firma. The 
Priest, who was rather more burly than 
Bill, did not get through the gratings quite 
so easily, and when he had got clear, came 
tumbling to the ground in a manner that 
made Bill fear his comrade had driven all 
breath from his body. But the Priest, with 
a few muttered curses, managed to pick 
himself up, and found no bones broken, 
though he was not a little bruised. 

Now Bill's rude rope was to come in 
play. The wall before them was at least 
twelve feet high, und so smooth as to bid all 
defiance to climbing. But oii the top was 
& thick row of high iron spikes, and by 
throwing his rope just over the top of the 
wall, the stone that was fastened in the end 
caught outside, and became firmly attached. 
The. athletic captain then sprang to the top 
jf the w T all without difficulty, and assisted 
the Priest in his ascent. Transferring 
their ingenius ladder to the opposite side, 
they were not slow in congratulating them- 
selves on their thus far successful escape 
from Liverpool jail. 

On being imprisoned, they had been 
searched, and every thing taken from them 
but a few small pieces of coin. Although 
they had now rid themselves of prison bars, 
they were still in a! perilous dilemma. 
Their first impulse, however, was to hurry 
to the outskirts and poorer quarters of the 
town— vvhi]& the minds of both were busy 
in cogitating plans for the future. 

After walking some distance through 
dirty streets and narrow lanes, they agreed 
to find some hiding place until daylight, 
and then trust to luck. They soon came 
across an old half-ruined stable which ap- 
peared to be entirely unoccupied. They 
found easy access to the place, and their 
way into th 3 loft. Throwing their weary 
farms upon the rough floor, they could not 


long resist the impulses of nature, and west 
soon fast asleep. 

When the daring fugitives woke from 
their souud slumbers, it was nearly mid- 
day. Peeping out from the cracKS of their 
hiding place, they could see nothing but 
the miserable habitations of the most wretch- 
ed class of people. Feeling somewhat safe 
in this quarter, it was agreed that they 
should venture out^ and at some low ale- 
house in the neighborhood procnre refresh- 
ment. Arranging and even soiling their 
imperfect dress in such a manner as not to 
attract suspicion, they crept from the place 
of their retreat. 


CHAPTER IX. 

THE REWARD ARRESTED AGAIN CARRIED 

TO LONDON — BILL IN NEWGATE — TRiEl 
AND CONVICTED— SENTENCED TO BOTANY 
BAY. 

Assuming a careless and sauntering air, 
the burglars walked dlong until they reach- 
ed a dingy-looking pot-house, which they 
entered, and called for food and drink. 
Seating themselves at a table in the most 
retired part of the room, they eagerly de- 
voured the plain but substantia] food that 
was afforded, and began to make themselves 
quite comfortable and contented over a pot 
of beer. 

“ One hundred pounds reward!” sud 
denly exclaimed an unshaven, slovenly- 
dressed man, as he strode into the house, 
and walked towards the bar. “ Say, old 
Pewter, h’aint you heard the news?” 

The landlord had not heard the news, and 
he therefore opened wide his eyes, and 
pricked up his ears, and relieved himself 
of the monosylable “ No!” Some half a 
d' ten ragged tipplers gathered round im- 
patient lo learn what the great reward ww 
all abdut, while the strang ir proceeded 
slowly to draw forth a huge placard, and 
then began to read it to his admiring an- 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


97 


dience. So many hiccups from the reader 
and so many exclamations of wonder from 
his listeners, prevented Bill and the Priest 
from hearing every word, but their ears 
undoubtedly caught the moot interesting 
portions of the document. 

“ One hundred pounds reward ! — Escap- 
ed last night — Liverpool jail — two notorious 
burglars — one short and thick— dark com- 
plexion — Captain Bill— alias Wharton — 
Conyngham — the other tall — large man — 
vicious look — whoever will arrest — give 
information— above reward — jailor — Bride- 
well.” 

Such was the substance of the placard, 
heard by the two self possessed gentlemen 
who had suddenly become the theme of 
popular curiosity and excitement. A look 
significant of caution glanced from Bill to 
his comrade, and they continued quietly 
drinking and conversing. Their thoughts 
naturally were as to what should be done 
next to complete their escape, and they 
finally determined to make their way, tra- 
velling only by night, to some distant coun- 
try town, where they could obtain some 
mechanical employment— provided no op-, 
portunity in the meanwhile offered for them 
to “ lift the lush ” in their old professional 
manner. 

Towards dusk, they prepared to leave 
the pot-house. Paying their small biU , 
they advanced confidently to the door, and 
were about to depart, when whom should 
they meet, to their horror and surprise, 
standing directly in their path, with his 
lynx-eyes fixed steadily upon them, the 
same London policeman who had first ar- 
rested therri. 

“ Ah, my fine birds, said the officer^ “ I 
thought you could’nt be far off. You will 
ac company me to London to-morrow, sure.” 
Assistance was called from without, and the 
burglars saw that it was in vain to resist 
the minions of the law. Again hand-cuffed 
they were conveyed to the prison, and 
locked up in a cell from which there was 


no escape. Heavy irons were placed upon 
them, and the prisoners felt that they must 
stand at the Bailey bar, and perhaps be 
“ pinched for life.” 

The next day, loaded with chains, the 
gaze and wonder of the populace, Bill and 
the Priest were taken from their cell, and 
in charge of a posse of police, conveyed on 
their way to London. Arrived at the me- 
tropolis, they were thrown into the strong 
est hold of New’gate, to await their trial a> 
the approaching term of the New Bailee 
sessions 

Bill was cool, and stern, and as undaunt- 
ed as ever. Though despairing somewhat 
of his fate, he had lost none of his intrepid 
ity arid resolution, and he was alive to ev 
ery hope of escape. Both he and his com- 
panion had heavy irons on their wrists, 
which were brought almost together by a 
short chain ; and on their ancles anothei 
set of gyves were so attached as to barely 
enable them to walk. The only light af- 
forded the cell was through a very small 
and thickly grated aperture at least twelve 
feet from the floor, and to which there was 
no means of ascent. 

“Well, captain,” remarked the Priest, 
after carefully surveying his fastenings — 
“We shan’t break these strings quite as 
easy as we did at Liverpool !” 

“No,” said Bill — “ but if I only had one 
of old Burns’s files, I’d show the dogs what 
we are made of !” And with a* desperate 
motion he wrenched his arms, as if he would 
have torn his chains asunder. But they 
Were too strong to yield, and the captain 
fell back silent and moody. 

The outer door of their cell was made of 
thick oak, crossed and bound by iron bands; 
while the inner door was entirely of iron. 
As they were led to their cell, the burglars 
carefully noted everything on the way, and 
they now fell that it was next to impossi- 
ble to effect an escape. This, however, did 
not deter them from continually working at 
the irons which bound them Bill, pa* 


88 


LI* E AND EXPLOITS 


iicularly made himself very busy, hour af- 
ter hour, in rubbing the thinnest portion of 
one ot his “darbies” against the edge of a 
thick iron band that was riveted over the 
mck in tiie door. Pressing with all his 
strength, he would file away uptil the per- 
spiration poured down his face, and he 
would j,hrow himself exhausted on the pile 
of straw that served him for a bed. For a 
day or two he scarcely made any percepti- 
ble impression on his fetters, but gradually 
he could see the bright line deepen, and. 
felt that with a little more labor the cuffon 
one hand would be severed. He hardly 
cnew what was to be accomplished, but the 
operation gave employmant to body and 
mind, and so he kept on. He finally got 
one hand free, and it gave him considerable 
satisfaction, as he said, to “know that the 
d — d hounds couldn’t always bold him 
tight !” He then went to work on the oth- 
er “darby,” and would soon have rid him- 
self of that, but for a striet examination of 
the prisoners’ irons that was suddenly 
commenced by the turnkey. The break in 
Bill’s cuflis was detected, and he was bound 
more securely than ever. 

The day of trial came. The proceedings 
were brief and conclusive, and Bill was 
sentenced to Botany Bay for fourteen years. 
The Priest received a similar award, but 
was to be sent to a different destination. 
They were carried back to Newgate, sep- 
arated, and confined in solitary cells. Bill 
never sav the Priest again, nor did he ever 
hear of his fate. 

Crime had not yet so hardened the heart 
of the convict, as to cause him to lose all 
memory and love of Mary. Her image 
floated ever before him, and if ever a tear 
moistened the cheek of the great burglar, it 
was when, within the cold walls of that 
prison, he pondered on his long banishment 
from his native soil, and thought of the des- 
olate, broken heart of the lair idol of Ins 
youth. 

From the commencement of our sketch, 


we nave geneially designated our hero by 
the name of Darlington— -that, perhaps, be- 
ing more familiar to our readers than any 
other. But the nami he had assumed on 
entering his criminal career was as un- 
known to Mary, as was his first alias 
unknown to even his own parents. It was 
therefore that Bill somewhaf rejoiced at the 
thought that Mary would, never learn of his 
felon’s fate. She might pine in anguish 
for the return of her first and fatal love, bat 
she would never be bowed down in sorrow 
in the knowledge that her William was a 
notorious robber — a condemned felon — a 
convict at Botany Bay. Her trusting heart 
would still look upon him, in the sad memo- 
ry of years, as an honest man. 


. ’ * , '» ,i li • '«• < •• ">> Hi " 

CHAPTER X. 

I * i ' ! ‘ I t * 1 l » 1 • ! "1 1 ’ ' /,* * • .1 

THE CONVICT SHIP BOTANY BAY TH* 

FELON'S LABOR- — BILL MEETS WITH SOME 

OF HIS PROFESSION HE RECEIVES FIFTY 

LASHES CONTEMPLATES AN ESCAPE — AN- 

OTHER. TERRIBLE WHIPPING. 

It was night upon the waters — the mur- 
ky clouds were scudding like evil spirits 
between the earth and stars — the giant 
masts strained and creaked, as the fierce 
night wind drove the black convict ship on- 
ward over the sea, far, far from England’s 
shores — the convict ship, with its sad 
freight of chained and fettered men. There- 
in their narrow confines — that living tomb 
on the vast deep — there, bound like wild 
beasts of prey, were the young in , crime, 
and the hoary-headed outlaw; the man in 
his prime, full of vigor and strong in limb, 
and the decrepid wretch who had grown 
grey in all the phases of London viilany ; 
ay, and there were mere striplings, vvhose 
first petty theft had brought them to the 
convict's doom — all banished from their 
mother' earth, tfj delve like brutes, for many 
a long and weary year, and perhaps iivr 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


life, in the penal settlements of New South 
Wales. 

But there was one, whose manly form no 
fetters could bow down — whose dark eyes 
flashed contemptuously, as he gazed upon 
the cursing, groaning crowd around him. 
His compressed lips and frowning brow 
spoke more than any one there could fath- 
om. Too proud to rid himfeelf of his ac- 
cursed life — too vindictive to feel resign- 
ment to his fate — full of hate and calm des- 
peration — William Darlington waited, 
without a murmur, his unhappy destina- 
tion. The storm that rocked the deep, and 
cast the convict ship like a bubble on its 
mighty waves, brought no utterance to the 
silent tongue jf the moody man — and the 
bright sunlight, when allowed to stream 
down through the grated hatchway, beam- 
ed only on a face unmoved, dark, and om- 
inous. 

“ Land ho !” /front the mast-head, after 
a weary voyage, brought no light of joy to 
the eyes of the strange man — while around 
him were those who exulted at the cry, 
happy for a change of scene, and to be 
freed from the crowded and loathsome prk- 
on-house of the sea. 

Port Sydney ! Was this to be Darling- 
ton’s home for fourteen long years ! The 
thought. would have been almost death to 
any other man — but as for him, a desperate 
hope flickered like a mysterious flame in 
the chambers of his soul, and when, usher- 
ed by armed men to the boat that was to 1 
convey a portion of the convict gang to 
shore, he trod erect and firm, with noble 
bearing, and an eye that even awed the 
guards w ho walked at his side. 

Bill, as one of the most notorious crimi- 
nals sent recently from England, was plac- 
ed at the hardest and most degrading labor 
in vogue at the colony — in the mines, down 
fat into the bowels of the earth, away from 
all gleam of sunlight, amid noxious vapors, 
and nothing for his nightly couch but the 
hard damp soil in which he delved. But 


2 ® 

his spirit was not yet crushed. Calmly 
he went to his toil — calmly he bore all hard- 
ships and privations. There was a volcano 
in his breast, which for a time he Could 
quench — an indomitable spirit which he 
could beat down in his bosom and cause to 
slumber. Apparently, to the eyes of those 
who kept their constant guard, he went re- 
signed and cheerily to his daily task ; they 
began to think he was not the desperado 
they took him for ; while Bill, industrious 
and peaceful, longed for one more glimpse 
of daylight and one more draught of the 
free air of heaven. 

For nearly a year and a half, Bill toiled 
in the subterranean place, when, his good 
conduct having been occasionally reported 
to the Governor, lie was taken from th6 
mines, and promoted to more pleasant la- 
bor on the surface of the earth. Hfere was 
a step gained, and he began to feel a little 
encouraged. Time passed on, and Bill was 
favored with many privileges in conseqdence 
of his quiet behavior. He was allowed a 
little more liberty, and had opportunity of 
making such acquaintances as came in his 
way. His reputation as a “cracksman,” 
and as a “captain of the cross,” had come 
with him from England, and as here were 
a plenty of the same daring profession, Bill 
was instantly sought out as a pal. It was 
at Botany Bay that Bristol Bill became ac- 
quainted with a number of celebrated bur- 
glars and pickpockets who have since visit- 
ed this country. Among them was Wil- 
liam Thetford, an English crossman, known 
in this country as Bill Hoppy— now in 
Sing Sing state prison, for the robbery of 
Rockwell’s jewelry store in New York. 
The notorious pickpocket, Billy Fish, was 
also at Botany Bay, and looked up with 
considerable respect to the accomplished 
Captain Bill. Then there was James 
Downer, sometimes called Cupid, who af- 
terwards proved a “staunch” man to Bill 
— for when Downer and three others wer< 

| convicted of the great Poughkeepsie barg 


30 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


robbery, in New York, Bristol Bill, who 
was the leader in the business, went scot 
free, not one of his accomplices “ peaching 
on him.” When these various personages 
afterwards met in the city of New York, 
crime in Gotham began to take a wide 
range, and the most stupid of the police 
were not slow in observing that a new, dar- 
ing, and skilful combination of thieves had 
commenced a system of operations widely 
differing from the frequent bungling per- 
formances of their predecessors. 

The most hopeful of the convicts at Port 
Sydney were occasionally taken from the 
work-gangs, and joined to the day or night 
watch — their duty being to preserve order 
and discipline in certain defined localities. 
This promotion generally tended to shorten 
the term at Botany Bay of those convicts 
who properly conducted themselves. It was 
not long, therefore, that Bristol Bill, as an 
encouragement for his apparently good en- 
leavors, was placed as a watchman at 
night over certain ware-houses. There 
were few persons that Bill liked, and none 
that he feared, in the whole colony: and he 
therefore attended strictly to his duty, not 
unfrequently preventing depredations from 
being’ committed by those who roamed 
abroad at night. 

But one night, as Bill was slowly going 
his rounds, he spied two men emerging 
from the forced door of a warehouse in 
w hich was stored a large quantity of tobac- 
co. Hastening to the spot, he intercepted 
the thieves, and caused them to drop their 
plunder. One of the parties, however, prov- 
ed to be a jolly sort of a fellow whom Bill 
had known in the mines, and he was very 
easily induced to let his prisoners depart in 
peace with their stolen weed. But in the 
morning, traces of the robbery were appa- 
rent, and Bill was looked to for an explan- 
ation. Nothing was to be elicited from 
him, however. The overseer of the dis- 
trict, satisfied that the watchman knew of 
tb? robbery, threatened Bill with a flogging 


if he did not divulge the names of the cul- 
prits But he lemained silent and resolute 
The overseer ordered him to the whipping 
post; his back was bared, and the lash was 
raised; but nothing escaped his lips. Bill 
had never before been struck by mortal 
man. This was the hardest scene through 
which he had been called to pass— but he 
had pledged his word not to betray the men 
who had committed a petty theft, and that 
was enough for him. Down came the cut- 
ting lash on his unshielded flesh — fifty 
blows were given with all the strength and 
ferocity possible to the brute whose only 
profession it was to dash like beasts those 
human beings who came bound to the 
whipping-post. Gore covered the body of 
the indomitable man, but through his set 
teeth came no confessing words. He was 
then released, and sent again to work in the 
road-gang. 

Five years passed on. Bill had ever 
dreamed of escape from that hell of the 
world, but he could see no opportunity. He 
had vague ideas of escaping to some other 
port on the island, but his want of “ free 
papers” would have exposed him if he ven- 
tured into any settlement. He therefore 
calmly waited for such fortune as time 
might throw in his w T ay. 

The lash had not tended to increase the 
gentleness of Bill’s temper — it was a stig- 
ma that could never be wiped out from his 
memory — it made him now moody, and then 
passionate — increased his vindictiveness, 
and made him more and more restless un- 
der the burden of his daily life, it was u 
one of his wwst fits of morbid melancholy, 
that he neglected his usual task, and was 
brutally reprimanded by a subordinate over- 
seer. Stung to the quick by the insulting 
language he received, Bill, in a frantic mo- 
ment sprang upon the man, and, seiz 
ing him by the throat, hurled him senseless 
to the ground. Bill was immediately seiz 
ed by the guard, and sent before the Gov- 
ernor. A brief examination, and he va s 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


3i 


sentenced to receive five hundred lashes, 
and Botany Bay to be his home for life. 
The unfortunate man heard his sentence, 
but his lip quivered not, nor did his eye 
grow dim. The sentence was carried into 
execution, and Bill was taken from the 
whipping-post almost senseless, and cover- 
ed with blood. His back — which te this 
day shows the marks of the horrible punish- 
ment — was frightfully disfigured, the skin 
and flesh being literally cut into rags. As 
before, he bore every fall of the lash with- 
out a groan, and it appeared as if he pos- 
sessed almost superhuman endurance and 
fortitude. 

As might have been expected, this last 
severe punishment tended not' to make Bill j 
a better man. Still cool and determined — 
but with all the ferocity of a tiger — Bill 
strove to bide his time. 


CHAPTER XI 

BILL PLANS AN ESCAPE FROM BOTANY BAY 

IS FINALLY SUCCESSFUL GOES ON A 

WHALING VOYAGE ARRIVES AT NEW BED- 

FORD. 

Port Sydney was not unfrequently visit- 
ed by vessels of all nations, for the purpose 
of procuring wood and water ; and rarely a 
week elapsed that did not see in the Bay 
some American whaler cruising in the 
South Pacific. It was by a ship of the lat- 
ter class that Bill had often contemplated 
an escape from the infernal region to 
which he had been doomed for life.. But 
the strictest watch was preserved by the 
captain ot the port and the numerous armed 
guards, und it was not an easy thing to 
avoid their vigilance. Besides, all foreign 
vessels were required to anchor a certain 
distance from shore, and receive their sup- 
plies by boats, which were always closely 
scrutinized. Notwithstanding all this, the 
escape of a convict had not unfrequently oc- 
curred, and it was well knowr that Amer- 


ican whaling masters, particularly when 
their crews had been reduced, were not 
extremely averse to the reception on board 
their craft of any able-bodied man, even 
though he be a fugitive from Botany Bay, 
Not a few of the notorious villains now in 
this country have made their exodus jn this 
manner from the penal settlements belong- 
ing to Great Britain. And it may not ap- 
pear singular that masters of whaling res- 
sels generally look upon these escaped con- 
victs as their best and most trusty men. 
The contrast of life on the open sea, with 
a weary existence of slavery in a penal col- 
ony, makes the fugitive’s heart beat with 
joy; the love of liberty, and the hope of 

i seeing a country where danger is for a time 
at an end, makes him go to his task on 
shipboard with a vigor and alacrity un- 
known to the poor men who have shipped 
from the States. They are, in fact, gener- 
ally the most obedient and orderly of the 
crew, and a captain has seldom had cause 
to regret that he has taken an escaped con- 
vict on board. 

It was with this knowledge that Brwtol 
Bill determined to make an attempt for 
freedom, even if that attempt cost him hit 
life. Walking daily as near the landing 
as he was permitted to go, he made every 
quiet endeavor to glean information con- 
cerning the ships in port. 

Six years of banishment had nearly elaps- 
ed, before Bill began to realize any practi- 
cal method >f escape. He hadHearned that 
a New Bedford whaling ship was lying 
about four miles from land. He had watch- 
ed the vessel with straining eyes for near- 
ly a week, and by certain signs he knew 
that she was making preparations for de- 
parture. But how could he surmount *ne 
distance between her and the shore ? Ifhe 
succeeded in that, how could he tefl out 
that he might be delivered up to undergo 

i,. 

new tortures? All boats employed in the 
Bay were strictly guarded at night, and it 
would be in vain to attempt to gain posses 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


sion of one. But tne love of liberty was 
too strong , and the hopes of escape too 
infatuating, for Bill to forego a trial. He 
came to the determination to make the des- 
perate attempt, under cover of night, of 
swimming to the ship. He was strong and 
athletic, and he thought his life might as 
well be lost in trying to gain his freedom, 
as to have strength, and all that was human 
slowly sacrificed to the horrible tyrranny of 
Botany Bay. 

Ere dark, Bill scrutinized well the posi- 
tion of the whaler, and with his keen eye 
measured his course. He saw that the 
sails were flapping idly on the spars, and 
the vessel was evidently waiting only for a 
wind. No time was to be lost, and as soon 
as the shades of night had settled heavily 
over the sky, Bill crept cautiously from the 
miserable hut allotted him as a habitation, 
and began to make his way towards a dis- 
tant point of the shore. It was a difficult 
matter to pa^s the various lines of armed 
guards and the ever vigilant night watch, 
but Bill, with the stealthy pace of a cat, and 
by frequently crawling on his hands and 
knees, gradually made his successful pro- 
gress to the water’s edge, at a considerable 
distance from the usual point of landing. 
The dark waters of the Bay rolled gloomily 
before him, and not a speck on their broad 
breast could he discover. But nothing 
could now intimidate; and, with only a 
few faintly glimmering stars for his guide, 
the intrepid* fugitive plunged boldly into 
the sea. Stoutly did his lusty sinews buf- 
Jet the waves, and bright hopes added to 
his strength as he swiftly rode the tide. 
Striking out in the direction where he sup- 
posed the vessel to lay, Bill tired and des- 
paired as he kept on his fearful course 
amid the darkness. By using his strength 
discreetly, he trusted he should be able to 
reach the whaler before she sailed— but if 
he had mistaken his course, or his weary 
limbs should tire of their office, then the 
dark depths of the sea must be his eternal 


grave. Hope — desperation — honor of the 
past — everything that life and freedom 
cculd promise-r-nerved him to the daring 
task. As he began to grow weary, he 
turned upon hie back, and with an easy 
motion of his hands would barely float 
along, allowing himself such intervals of 
rest as were actually required by his almost 
superhuman exertions. As he looked up- 
wards to the heavens, what was his joy to 
discovei that one by one the stars grew 
brighter and that the misty clouds which 
had overshadowed the sky were slowly 
melting away. Pretty soon the pale moon 
began to peep lovingly out from the sable 
curtains that hid her face, and cast her 
sweet radiance gently over the waters. 
Bill turned again his strong breast to the 
waves, and struck cheerily out. He had 
not exaggerated the distance, and after two 
hours swimming, he felt that had he como 
in the right direction, he must be some- 
where in the vicinity of the whaler. But 
as yet he could see no signs of her, nor 
could he hear the slightest sound that would 
be ex-pected to come from a craft making 
preparations to sail. But Bill kept bravely 
on, as the moonbeams streamed brighter on 
his path — no faint heart had he, and his 
eyes peered steadily over the tvaves that now 
began to increase their motion as they felt 
the rising breeze from off the shore. 

But ah ! what is that, looming into the 
clouds, as if a magic mantle had been sud- 
denly drawn from before it. It is the 
American whaler, whose rigging, traced 
against the sky, seems the summit of al.l 
hopes to poor Bill, whose strength is fast 
failing him. But the sight revives his 
weary limbs, and he continues with lusty 
strokes to make his steady way onward. 
Soon he hears the voices of the crew, and 
by the “ yo ! heave ho !” that falls distinct- 
ly on his ear, he knows the vessel is about 
to depart. 

“ Ahoy there .” bellowed Bill with all 
his lungs, as a despairing vision cross** 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


33 


ai* mind “ Ahoy !” — but no answer came 
snd he exerted all his little remaining 
strength to get nearer the ship. “Ahoy!” 
he cried once more, almost in a tone of 
agony — and then he strained his ear over 
the silent waters to listen for a reply. He 
could not swim much further — his legs 
hung almost listless beneath him, and his 
arms ached sorely. 

But the sailors heard his despairing cry, 
and hack came their welcome “ Ahoy !” 
Bill felt as if new life was thrilling in his 
reins, and he began again to buffet his way. 
“Help — help!” he cried, and soon was 
heard the sound of a boat as it was lowered 
into the water, and the plashing of the oars 
as the crew made their swift way towards 
the panting fugitive. 

Lusty arms lifted the escaped convict 
into the boat, and the exhausted man sank 
senseless into the bottom of the boat. 
Aboard ship, and a kind draught of brandy 
enabled him ere long to tell the whaling 
master ins StO c y. The daring, extraordi- 
nary teat he ju3t performed was enough 
to excite the admiration of the crew, and 
it was agreed by the captain that Bill should 
take his place in the forecastle at the terms 
usually allowed “green hands.” 

The breeze came fresh and brisk from off 
the shore, the sails were set, the yards 
braced, and the whaler was off on another 
cruise in the hunting regions of the South 
Pacific. 

Bristol Bill began to feel like a man — the 
dogged moroseness that had characterized 
him for three or four years began to wear 
off, and he gradually assumed the cheerful 
disposition most natural to him. There was 
not a more active man on board ship than 
he. In the raging storm he was foremost 
there was no danger too imminent for him 
to brave. Apt to learn, and quick tc exe- 
cute, he soon became as expert in his new 
profession as the oldest of the crew. When 
the well-manned boat was gliding like a 
•ea-hird over the wa7es, in pursuit of the 


monsters of the deep, he was the eool, in- 
trepid, acknowledged leader ; — when the 
right moment canne, his was the strong and 
steady arm that poised the fatal spear, and 
his the flashing eye that sent the swift 
harpoon to the vitals ofhis gigantic victim. 
Bill was the her.o of the crew. He began 
to like the life of the ocean — the ever 
restless waters, and the howling of the 
midnight storm — the scenes of danger and 
adventure — all suited the nature of the man, 
for his soul fed on excitement, and he lived 
in a constant dream of all that was heroic. 

Eighteen months thus passed by, and the 
whaler was on its way home. Bill was 
about to set his feet on a new soil Wha 1 
was to be his career in this country he 
scarcely thought — but he had vague ideas 
of a future life of honesty, and we doubt 
not, had favorable circumstances attended 
him, lie would have become a useful mem- 
ber of society, and all his deeds of crime 
have been shrouded in oblivion. 

“ Home — home !” cried many of the crew 
joyfully, as the roofs and spires of New 
Bedford glistened in the setting sun, while 
the well-freighted whaler went gaily gliding 
into the harbor, the welcome visitor to many 
a waiting and anxious heart. But Bill 
began to feel sad — he stood leaning against 
the taffrail, silent and melancholy. He 
was alone in a strange land — a burglar by 
profession, and a fugitive convict from 
Botany Bay. But he trusted to luck, and 
meant not to starve. He was roused from 
his reverie by the order to let go the an- 
chor, and Bill sprang to join in the duty. 

The next day the crew were set at liber- . 
ty, and, as is not unfrequent on such occa- 
sions, considerable disturbanca occurred at 
the counting-room of the owners. Those 
of the crew who w r ere expecting large sums 
as the reward for a three years voyage 
suddenly found strange figures set against 
them on the snip's books, and were turned 
off with a oo.Iar where they expected twen- 
ty. But there was no redress, and the poor 


34 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


fellows went cursing on their way— soon 
drowning all in a “ hard spree ashore.” 
Bill, from the promises made him, had 
looked for quite a snug little sum, but the 
owners knew nothing about him, and grum- 
bled at finally getting rid of him by the 
payment of only about five dollars. Bill 
pocketed, with a show of gratitude, his 
slim finances, and began to think how he 
should commence a new chapter in his 
eventful life. 


CHAPTER XII. 

m 

BRISTOL BILL'S CAREER IN AMERICA — FIRST 

ARRIVAL IN BOSTON ROBBERY OF AN 

APOTHECARY BILL LIVES IN HIGH STYLE 

RESUMES HIS OLD PROFESSION. 

We hava now to attempt to describe the 
adventurous career of the celebrated burglar 
in America, and it is by no means an easy 
task. It is impossible for the author to 
thoroughly, and with exact dates, trace out 
all the exploits of Bristol Bill in this coun- 
try, for the reason that the skilful robber 
so shrewdly performed his business that he 
remained for years unknown to the police ; 
the only records of crime, therefore, in 
which appear the names or known aliases 
of Bristol Bill, are of but recent date — leav- 
ing some four or five years of his career 
wrapped in profound mystery, except 
where occasional light has been thrown 
on the permd by the confessions of himself 
and pals. We cannot here* refrain from 
alluding to some remarks made by the New 
York chief of police a year or two since. 
For some four years the most daring and 
the heaviest robberies in New York and 
Brooklyn had baffled all the turning and 
scrutiny of the police to discover the per- 
petrators. There was a peculiarity about 
these burglarious operations which cou*d 
not escape notice — no trace was ever left 
behind which could lead to the detection of 


the robbers. A fter a while, by some unknown 
means, the chief of police became aware of 
the fact that a man, known among the 
“ cross” as Bristol Bill, was in the city, 
and by some was suspected of committing 
many of the recent robberies. Quite a sys- 
tem of espionage was instituted, and it was 
a longtime before the police became aware 
that a certain gentlemanly-looking man, 
whose person they had long known, was 
none other than the illustrious Bill. After 
this they watched in vain, but nothing in 
his manner or habits, indicating crime, 
could they detect. The same scientific sys- 
tem of burglary continued, and the same 
mystery hung over each operation of “lift- 
ing the lush.” Bill meanwhile, by day, 
coolly walked the streets, not at all igno- 
rant that a policeman was silently dogging 
him as he went. Bill carelessly puffed hit 
cigar, and the spy had only his pains for his 
reward — for when it behooved Bill to leave 
the company of his follower, he would sud- 
denly turn and face the policeman, and be- 
fore the spy recovered his ,gelf-possessio* 
Pill would be lost to his view. 

It would be in vain to endeavor to enu- 
merate all the robberies of note committed 
by the subject of our sketch — but we be- 
lieve, on good authority, that within the 
last six years upwards of thirteen Banks in 
the United States were forcibly entered and 
robbed by Bristol Bill ; while the numbe* 
of stores in the various cities, which con- 
tributed largely to the valuable booty ol 
our robber, are almost without number. 
With such' a “ fence” as Sam Drury and 
others, to “ smash his plunder” on, Bill 
had little else to look to than the skilful 
performance of the robberies themselves. 

We left Bill at New Bedford, just dis- 
charged from a whaler, with only a few 
dollars in his pocket, and undetermined as 
to his future course. He, however, came 
to Bobi »n, in his sailor rig, and put up at a 
seaman’s boarding-house in Richmond 
etiae.\ Hit* walks about the city, and the 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


35 


*ight of wealth as displayed in shop win- 
dows, served soon to r*v?ve a t.ste for his 
old profession, and be cotring nearly desti- 
tute of fundb, he watched a favorable oppor- 
tunity for clandestinely “raising the wind.” 

A well-known apothecary, on Washing- 
ton street, had the honor of being the first 
victim of Bristol Bill in this country — al- j 
though the gentleman has probably not 
hitherto been aware who his plunderer was. 
Bill, late one afternoon, entered the shop, 
and called for a glass of soda. While there, 
a person came in and addressed the propri- 
etor, informing him that he wished to 
‘take up that note of $300.” The two gen- 
tlemen stepped to the desk, the business 
was settled, and Bill saw the keeper of the 
store put a large roll of bills in a pocket- 
book, which he then placed in the desk. 
That night, the door of the place was skil- 
fully forced, and the money was stolen. 
All endeavors of the police to discover the 
robber were in vain. Bill was now flush, 
and he began to assume the gay airs which 
have always characterized him in his hours 
of success. 

Procuring a fashionable wardrobe, and a 
moderate amount of baggage, he proceeded 
to Providence for a few days, and then re- 
turned to Boston, putting up like a very 
discreet gentleman at the Tremont House. 
While in Providence, whom should he meet 
but the celebrated Bill Hoppy, who had es- 
caped from Botany Bay but a short time 
after Bristol Bill. The two burglars shook 
hands on their meeting, and it was agreed 
that they should join each ether. Bill was 
introduced to two or three American cross- 
men, whom Hoppy pronounced “ square,” 
and also made acquainted with a certain 
jeweller who acted as a “ fence.” Feeling 
that he was not quite alone in his profes- 
sion, and somewhat encouraged by the 
“ fence,” Bill, under the name of Elliot, 
tooK up his quarters at the.Tremont’House, 
intending for a while to take a survey of 
things in general. 

3 


Some months elapsed before Bill ventur- 
ed upon another robbery. He was sadly in 
want of the necessary tools to carry on suc- 
cessfully his burglarious schemes , but by 
degrees he gathered together su-’di as he 
thought would answer his purpose, and in 
a month or two, his money being nearly 
| gone, he began to prepare for business. A 
boarder at the Tremont House, he was far 
above suspicion, and from his safe height 
he watched like an eagle his prey. On the 
opposite corner of Beacon street, under the 
Albion, was Mosely’s jewelry store, and 
the windows thereof teemed with every va- 
riety of valuable goods. This store was se- 
lected by Bill as the first scene of his sci- 
entific operations. One dark and rainy 
night, Bill left the Tremont House, and, 
after carefully surveying the- premises for 
some time, advanced to the door of Mose- 
ley’s store, and by dint of his tools forced 
the lock, and entered. His selection of 
goods w T as shrewdly made — taking the most 
valuable gold watches, and only rich goods 
of small compass, their total value amount- 
ing to several thousand dollars. Arrang- 
ing them about his person, and carrying a 
portion in histirms, wrapped in a handker- 
chief, Bill quietly passed unnoticed to his 
room in the Tremont. Startling was the 
announcement, the next day, of the great 
robbery. Crowds gathered around and 
gaped in at the windows of the store that 
was said to be robbed, while police offi- 
cers, looking very sagacious, crept myste- 
riously through the streets. The excite- 
ment blew over, and days and weeks pass- 
ed, but no clue to the robber was obtained. 

A few days before this affair, Bill had 
traded for a watch, at a store under the 
Franklin House, and found himself, as he 
thought, somewhat cheated. So he deter- 
mined to pay off the jeweller in the follow- 
ing manner. The very next night after the 
Mosely robbery, Bill broke into the store, 
and helped himself to a choice lot of jewel- 
ry. This burglary, like the other, wm 


36 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


complete, and no traces were left behind for 
detection. In a few days, with his two 
lots of plunder Bill and his baggage were 
on the road to Providence, where the 
“ fence ” did him good service by taking j 
everything off his hands, and paying in 
exchange about five thousand dollars in 
current money. 

Bristol Bill was now pretty well off, and 
treading on comparatively safe ground. 
He was entirely unknown to the police j 
of the country, and his behavior was so 
discreet as never of itself to attract suspi- 
cion. 

He next proceeded to New York, and | 
while there made there made the acquaint- j 
ance of Bob Whelan, the “ old man of the J 
cross,” or, in other words, the oldest and 
most notorious member of the honorable fra- I 
ternity of burglars. Bill also gained the j 
affections, about this time, of a young “ girl j 
of the town,” named Catherine Davenport; 
and she afterwards became his mistress, and 
served as an accomplice in many of his fel- 
onious operations. 

In one instance, Catherine made herself 
particularly useful to Bill He had kept 
his eye tor some time on a rich lace store 
in Broadway, but could not himself obtain 
an opportunity to fit a key to the door. 
The girl was provided with the necessary 
means, and, under pretence of making pur- 
chases, paid several visits to the store. In 
the busiest and most fashionable hour of 
the day, when the attendance of ladies were 
large, and the doprwayv thronged, Cathe- 
rine obtained a wax impression of the key 
to the principal door, and hurried with it 
home. Bill found a key which nearly an- 
swered his purpose. Covering the wards 
of the key w ith a thin coat of wax, he di- 
rected the girl to again visit the premises, 
and, when unobserved, to insert the key 
in the lock, and by turning it obtain a dis- 
tinct impression of such parts as obstructed 
.. She was again successful in her mis- 
»ou ai*d Bill so filed the key, that on a 


future visit Catherine fi.und she could turn 
the bolt. A few nights after that, there 
was a heavy robbery of goods at this same 
lace store. The police examined the prem- 
ises — saw the place had been entered by 
false keys — shook thei. heads, and never 
found out the perpetrator. 

It appeared that Catherine Davenport had 
previous to her acquaintance with Bill, been 
acting in another criminal sphere, under the 
tuition of skilful and experienced mastere — 
such as Joseph C. Ashley, Samuel Drury, 
and others of the like kidney. Kate, with 
her sweet face and winning ways, w r as an 
apt creature for a koney acker , and proved 
very, successful in “ passing the soft.” 
The well-executed counterfeits of Ashley, 
Thompson & Co., would hardly he detect- 
ed while amorous store-keepers were 
gazing on the charms of their faircustomer. 
Thousands and thousands of dollars in 
spurious “ lush ” thus found its w ay into 
the business world, and no one thought of 
looking to a nice young lady as the regular 
passer thereof. 

Well, it was through Kate that Bristol 
Bill became aware of that vast association 
of thieves and counterfeiters, the dispersing 
of which, withiL a year past, has caused 
so much excitement. Bill, without com 
mining himself too much to their clutchc. 
was not particularly averse to making the 
acquaintance of such men as Ashley and 
his gang, or of Drury , who was said to be 
the great “ fence ” of ciossmen in general. 
At a later day, Bill was somewhat identi- 
fied w'ith William H., alias One-Eyed 
Thompson, and was in the sequel made the 
victim of that rascal's treachery. 

Bill, however, resting entirely on his 
own profession, declined having anything 
to do with the counterfeiting operations, 
but suffered Catherine to continue in the 
employ of Ashley as before. He then 
suggested to A., that the acquaintance ol 
M,r. Drury might be beneficial to him in 
the way of “ smashing ” his booty, a d4 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


arrangements were accordingly made for 
an interview 

Bii! had on hand the plunder of the lace 
store, a valuable booty, and he wished to 
exchange it for good “ soft ” or “ blunt.” 

Among other confreres at this time, Bill 
suddenly came across Jim Downer, alias 
Cupid, a pickpocket of no little note, who 
had also escaped from Botany Bay. Cupid 
was a “ square ” man, and he and Bill 
shortly afterwards were connected with one 
of the most astounding robberies ever com- 
mitted in New York. 

Thus opened the criminal and social 
career of Bristol Bill in New York — preg- 
nant with some of the most thrilling scenes 
of adventurous rascality ever disclosed to a 
stalled public. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

INTRODUCTION TO SAMUEL DRURY — A NEW 

DEVELOPMENT A NEW GANG FORMED 

THE POUGHKEEPSIE BARGE ROBBERY. 

The day arrived when Bristol Bill was 
to be introduced to Mr. Samuel Drury, an 
apparently very respectable gentleman, who 
resided in a fine mansion at Astoria, Long 
Island. Mr Ashley conducted the ceremo- 
ny of introduction with considerable grace, 
and Bill no doubt appreciated it. The 
renowned cracksman found himself in the 
presence ot a man who appeared to be a 
little over forty years of age — his hair dark 
and grizzly — a sharp but restless eye — and 
with but one arm. There was nothing, 
however, in his exterior, that would lead a 
person to suppose he was ought else than a 
ordinary business man, well to do in the 
world, and perhaps wealthy. He re- 
ceivrd Bill cordially, and began immediate- 
ly fi talk to him in the slang manner usual 
to tic “cross.” He said that of course 
Ashley had informed him of the nature of 
th® business that was carried on between 


3T 

various parties. Mid it was not unlikely that 
he (Drury) and Bill might work together 
to advantage. 

Bill signified assent. But there was 
something about the man that operated 
strangely on his mind — and he was more 
engrossed in studying the features of his 
patron than he was in listenig to his pro- 
posals. Couid it be that Bristol Bill had 
seen this Drury before in other scenes and 
in years long past? At last, he abruptly 
asked the question — 

“ Drury, are you an Englishman?” 

The man seemed surprised — hesitated a 
moment, and then replied — “ Yes, but l 
have been in this country for quite a num* 
ber of years.” 

“ Were you a Bow-street officer, ten or 
twelve years ago ?” was the next earnest 
question of the burglar. 

“ Yes !” exclaimed Drury, as he started 
to his feet, not knowing What to make ot 
the mysterious questioning of his visifer. 

“I knew it!” said Bill, and his eyet 
flashed fire. “ I knew it! and, by G — d, 
you are the hound that tracked me to Liver 
pool, and had me pinched for fourteen 
years !” 

A sudden gleam of memory seemed te 
startle the one-armed man, but he soon re- 
covered his self-possession. Advancing 
towards Bill, he held out his hand, and said 
— “ I recollect vou now, Captain Bill — 
but you see things have changed since then. 
If you have any old grudge against me, you 
must forget it. I was obliged to leave the 
old country myself — because I halved swag 
with a crossman !” 

Bill moodily took the proffered hand of 
Drury, and remained silent; but gradually 
grew interested, and finally good-natured, 
as his patron proceeded to relate his own 
career — so full of rascality, so much conni- 
ving with thieves, and everything that com- 
promised his honesty as a policeman. With 
all his ill-gotten wealth he had escaped the 
clutches of his fellow officers, and come tc 


S8 


LIFE AND EXPLOIT’S 


America. He now owned a Bank of his 
own, and he could “ pass the soft ” through 
it, and get the “ right ” money : and he 
could “ smash ” all the plunder that cross- 
men could bring him. Such was the sub- 
stance of Drury’s remarks. 

Bill promised to see him again, and de- 
parted for the city. 

It was now early in the spring of 1845, 
and Bill was on the watch lor a chance to 
make a “ crack.” Falling in with Cupid, 
.(Downer, alias Miller,) the pickpocket told 
him that it he wanted any staunch men, he 
knew where to find them ; and pretty soon, 
in consequence of this information, Bill 
made the acquaintance of one William Par- 
kinson, an elderly man, perhaps fifty or fif- 
ty-five years old. Parkinson intimated that 
he knew where there was a great chance 
for plunder, but it would take more than 
his skill to get it. At the first interview 
he did not -express himself more fully. 

Calling -on Parkinson a second time, Bill 
found him in earnest conference with Cu- 
pid, and two men whom he did not at the 
time know, but who afterwards proved to 
he the notorious James Honeyman and Dick 
Collird. As Bill. entered the room, Cupid 
exclaimed — 

‘‘ There’s the man that can plan the 
whole thing — he can’t be beat !” 

It was at this time that Bill first heard 
the idea broached of robbing the barge 
Clinton, plying between Poughkeepsie and 
the city of New York, and which was 
known to convey daily to and fro large 
sums of money. The four originators of 
the idea of robbery had the will and cour- 
age to perform it, but none of them had the 
experience and skill to originate a wise 
plan for carrying out their enterprise. It 
was in this emergency that the talents of 
Bristol Bill were called to bear on the case. 
Listening attentively to a description of the 
oarge, and the place where the money was 
supposed to be deposited. Bill finally told 
the rest to keep aloof for a few days, while 


he made an examination of the matter ; and 
promised, if he could devise a plan for suc- 
cess, they should immediately be made ac- 
quainted with it, and all should participate 
in the danger and the spoils. Saying this, 
he departed on his enterprise. 

The barge Clinton, Captain Wiltsie, 
laid at the foot of Murray street, which 
was her regular place of coming in. Bill 
proceeded to the spot, and found that the 
barge had not yet commenced her trips for 
the season, but would in a few days. Dur- 
ing the first part of March, in the day time, 
there was considerable bustle on board, in 
consequence of making repairs and the 
preparations necessary to the commence- 
ment of the spring business. Bill therefore 
had several opportunities to go aboard un- 
noticed, and on one of these occasions, to- 
wards dusk, he took the key from the door 
of the office, and with a piece of putty or 
wax obtained an impression of the same. 
In a few days, the boat commenced run- 
ning, and Bill made a trip up to Pough- 
keepsie and back — carefully scrutinizing 
the position of things, and satisfying him- 
self that the daily transmission of money 
was quite large. 

Returning to his confederates, he quiet 
ly informed them that, with a little cau- 
tion and care on the part of all, a good 
“ crack ” might in a short time be made.. 
Directing Parkinson and Honeyman to take 
occasional alternate trips on the barge 
Bill set himself to work on a key to the 
captain’s office. By watching attentively, 
he had discovered that packages of money 
sent by the boat, from and to different 
Banks, were deposited in an iron chest or 
safe, in the office, and that the key to 
the chest was kept in the money-drawer of 
the captain’s desk. He knew well that to 
attempt the plunder, one must undergo 
great risk of detection — but he trusted to 
the vigilant watch and co-operation of hi* 
pals, when the right moment should com®. 
With his wax impresssion, he made a key 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


Tat it proved a little imperfect— the reason 
of which may be guessed from the hurry 
in which the impression was taken. And, 
if we recollect aright, on the future trial of 
Honeyman, the captain of the barge testi- 
fied that one morning, early in the spring, 
on taking his key from the door, he “found 
some red putty or sealing wax adhering to 
it” — he rubbed it off,. and thought nothing 
more of it until after the robbery. It was 
necessary, therefore, that Bill should ob- 
tain a more perfect pattern. There was a 
cabin for lady passengers on board, and 
Bill therefore despatched a woman (whom 
we need not name) on a trip to Poughkeep- 
sie — providing her with his half-finished 
key, covered with 'the same substance as 
that he had used in his operation on the 
Broadway lace store. The woman’s mis- 
sion proved successful, and in a few days 
Bristol Bill announced to his coiprades that 
he had made a key which would open the 
captain’s office of the barge Clinton. They 
now waited for a convenient opportunity. 

The captain of the barge wa3 agent for 
the Poughkeepsie Bank, and the Farmer’s 
and ifaanufacturers’ Bank, and had for some 
years been engaged in carrying exchanges 
between those institutions and Banks in the 
city of New York. 

While one member of the robber gang 
would be watching in the vicinity of the 
boat, others would be in different quarters ; 
while Bill took upon himself the duty of 
following the captain as he went about the 
city on business. On the afternoon of the 
7th of April, 1845, Bill saw the captain en- 
ter the Phoenix Bank, and, on pretence of 
exchanging a small parcel of money, en- 
tered also. While there, apparently un- 
concerned about anything but his own busi- 
ness, he saw the cashier give the captain 
six packages of bank bills, enveloped and 
sealed, to be conveyed to the cashier of one 
of the Poughkeepsie Banks. The captain 
tied them up in his pocket handkerchief, 
and left. Bill, fearful of follow ing too 


3S 

soon, lingered in the Bank a few minutes, 
and then stepped carelessly out. But the 
captain was out of sight, and he therefore 
hastened to the vicinity of the barge It 
afterwards appeared that Capt. Wiltsey, on 
leaving the Phoenix Bank, called at two or 
three stores, and finally at the Merchants’ 
Exchange Bank, at which latter place he 
received two packages of money for the 
Poughkeepsie Bank It was about half- 
past three o’clock when the captain return- 
ed to the barge. As may be imagined, 
sharp eyes watched every movement. He 
had the packages- in his hands as he went 
on board, and Barkinson almost brushed 
against him as he entered his office, in 
which stood the c.erk of the boat at his 
desk. As was naturally supposed, the 
money was immediately locked up in the 
iron chest,* and the key placed in the money 
drawer. About this time, there was cop 
siderable commotion on board, from taking 
in freight, of which an unusually large 
quantity was being received. The barge 
was to leave the dock in an hour or two 
and there were some thirty or forty pas- 
sengers preparing to go iu her. Bill. walk 
ed about, of course unnoticed in the bustle 
— while at different points on the slip saun- 
tered Cupid, Collard, and Honeyman, 
ready, if necessary, to “pass along” the 
booty. 

For about three quarters of an hour af- 
ter the money had been brought on board, 
the captain and clerk remained in the of- 
fice. At the expiration of that time, the 
captain went on shore, leaving the clerk 
alone. But although the clerk soon left 
the office alone, locking the door, no oppor- 
tunity yet offered itself to the robbers to 
carry out their scheme. Passengers were 
wandering up and down the deck, and 
hands were engaged in storing freight near 
by — s6 that they could not be unperceived. 
In about quarter of an hour the captain 
again returned, and for some time he and 
his clerk were busily engaged in the office. 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


40 

A little Defore five o’clock, preparations 
were beginning to be made to haul the 
barge out of the dock, and the captain left 
the office, and went to the forward part of 
the boat. Time began to grow precious, 
and Bill was on the alert when he saw the 
clerk also come out of the office, lock the 
door, and hurry forward to assist in work- 
ing the barge out of the slip. None of the 
passengers were near by, and Bill direct- 
ed Parkinson to stand in a position where 
he could give the alarm if necessary, while 
he proceeded to the work. Bill slipped the 
false key from his coat-sleeve, and in an 
instant was in the office. The clerk had 
carelessly left the money-drawer unlocked, 
and the robber seized the key to the chest, 
not stopping to notice the large amount of 
money ($2000) that was in the drawer. In 
less time than it takes the author to de- 
scribe it, Bill opened the chest, and hastily 
grasped six of the packages contained there- 
in. He then locked the safe, returned the 
jfcey to the drawer, and left the office, kick- 
ing the door of that also. The whole tran- 
saction scarcely occupied a minute and a 
half. Parkinson received three of the pack- 
ages, and the robbers secreted their Dooty 
in .their bosoms and pockets. The barge 
had not yet began to move, and, separat- 
ing a little, the thieves sauntered among a 
group of men who w T ere standing on the 
side of the boat. As the crew began to 
warp .the barge along, there were several 
who stepped ashore, and among the num- 
ber Bill and his venerable pal. Standing 
quietly on the slip, the robbers looked calm- 
ly on the scene ; and when the barge had 
got a little distance, they walked coolly and 
moderately away. Their conduct was 
such that the other- confederates began to 
believe that no opportunity had occurred 
for the robbery and that they were still 
empty-handed. 

According to previous arrangement, the 
partners in the robbery, five in nnmber, 
took separate paths to the rendezvous, 


which was in a lvom in the thiid atory of 
a building in the rear of William street, oc- 
cupied by Parkinson ostensibly as a carvel 
aud gilder’s shop. Here the parties met, 
and on counting the spoils, it was found 
that their booty amounted to the enormous 
value ot thirty-two thousand dollars ! 

A division was made ; and, after cau- 
tioning his pals as to their future behavior, 
and making them reiterate a promise nevei 
to peach on him or each other, Bill left the 
quartette to the enjoyment of their share of 
the plunder. He then hurried over the 
ferry to the house of Drury — told him he 
had “cracked ” something, no matter what 
— and he wanted to “smash” a bunch of 
the “ soft. ” Drury .carefully examined 
the bills, and then paid over about $5000, 
reserving nearly $2000 as bis own per 
centage. Early the next morning, Drurv 
was on the way post-haste to his Bank at 
Canandaigua, where a goodly portion of 
the barge plunder was soon swallowed in 
the vortex of a heavy financiering business. 

The remainder of the gang, it appears, 

I did not have such facilities for disposing of 
| their funds as those which Bill possessed, 

! but began immediately to pass the stolen 
j bills in various quarters for their necessary 
wants. But it was some time before the 
j police got the slightest clue to any of the 
•j gang — although two or three of the rob* 

I bers were not unnoticed, and their appa 
rently sudden transition from poverty to 
! wealth could not but excite suspicions. 

, Somo two or three months, however, elaps- 
! ed before any of the real perpetrators of the 
robbery were “ pulled.” Parkinson acted 
carelessly in the passing of his money — hir- 
ed a house in New York, and repaired it at 
his own expense — indulged in many lux- 
uries which his means had never before al- 
lowed him — offered Poughkeepsie bills of 
a large denomination in payment of ferri- 
age, &c,— and paid all his expenses with 
the stolen funds. When finally arrested, a 
large sum was found hidden in various parts 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


41 


of his house ard shop. Honeyman (Par- 
Kinson’s brother in-law,) Cupid, and Col- 
lard, were arrested on much the same evi- 
dence as existed against Parkinson. 

Within a year from the time the robbe- 
ry was committed, these four individuals 
were brought one by one to trial. Able coun- 
sel were engaged by the parties — but the 
fact that the prisoners were well known as 
old and notorious thieves, and the finding of 
much of the stolen nrmney in their posses- 
sion, sealed their fate, and after hard-con- 
tested, tedious trials, each received his sen- 
tence to the State Prison. 

But they were all “staunch” men, and 
never a word was uttered by one that would 
criminate another. Bill, therefore, by not 
connecting himself with them after the rob- 
bery, and having so suddenly and thorough- 
ly disposed of his portion of the money, 
went free — in fact, we do not know that he 
was even supected by the New York po- 
lice. During the trial of his accomplices, 
Bill in a quiet way made himself as useful 
to them as circumstances would permit. On 
one occasion, by getting an important fe- 
male witness out of the way, the trial was 
obliged to be postponed. The police were 
after the woman for some time, but through 
the management of Bill she was able to 
elude pursuit. It was suddenly learned, 
however, that she was in the vicinity of 
New Haven, and two officers started for 
that place. But Bristol Bill was not to be 
caught napping — he was around the courts, 
and as yet unknown to the police. He 
watched every movement of the officers, and 
became aware that they had got a clue to 
the woman. Bill instantly “ put ” for New 
Haven — -arrived there before the officers, 
and took the woman in charge. We do 
not recollect the particulars of this affair 
any fatther than that Bill barely escaped 
with her. They were in a train of cars, 
we believe, going towards New York; and 
at a station on the road, as the cars stopped 
for a few minutes, the officers, who were 


waiting at the place, entered the forward 
car, intending to pass through and make a 
search. Bill spied them through the win- 
dow ; and just at that moment another 
train, bound north, stopped at the station 
So Bill and his lady summarily left the 
train they were in, and jumped on board 
the other — and in a few minutes they were 
rattling off in another direction. They con- 
tinued on as far as Springfield, where the 
witness was safely secreted, and Bill qui- 
etly returned to New York 


CHAPTER XIV 

A PROFESSIONAL TOUR — FORGERY AND BUR 
GLARY — VISIT TO BOSTON — BENNETT ANP 

THOMPSON THE CURRIER AND TROTT 

ROBBERY. 

When Bill found that nothing further 
could be done for his accomplices, he start- 
ed on a tour to the south and west. I* is 
understood that he committed a great num 
ber of robberies in various cities, and es- 
caped undetected. At New Orleans, how- 
ever, the police, from a description rf his 
person, believe Bristol Bill to be a burglar 
whom they once arrested, and who broke 
out and escaped from the city prison before 
trial. It is not altogether improbable. 

The only time that Bill ever tried his 
hand at forgery, he was detected. It hap- 
pened in one of the far western cities, and 
after considerable trouble he forged a draft 
for a large amount — but it was “ no go • 
it was not in Bill’s line of business. But 
he managed, in some mysterious way, to 
escape. 

Taking a northern circuit, he reached 
Montreal, and had the daring to attempt a 
robbery of the Governor General’s house. 
In spite of every obstacle hg, succeeded, and 
carried off a large lot of valuable silver 
plate — plunder which was shortly after 
bought by Sam. Drury. 

He the i began to wend his way towards 


49 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


New York, and concluded to take a survey 
of Boston on the way. Coming to this city, 
he stopped for a few days at the Albion, 
under quite an aristocratic alias. It was 
at this time that the store of Currier & 
Trott, jewellers, on the corner of Milk 
street, took his eye, and, having ascertain- 
ed that no one slept in the store, he began 
to study a plan for making a “crack.” But 
he must needs have assistance, and he 
therefore set out for New York, to hunt up 
some crossman who could be relied on. . 

On his return to New York, he drove 
quite a bargain with Drury, and disposed 
of a large collection of plunder. About 
this period, Gen. James Arlington Bennett, 
©f New Utrecht, Long Island, was intro- 
duced to his acquaintance — together with 
the notorious One-Eyed Thompson, who 
was residing on Bennett’s estate; and Bill 
was given to understand that they were both 
members of the Ashley counterfeiting gang. 
One-Eye frequently solicited Bill to go on 
some predatory excursion, but the burglar 
always declined— he had vague suspicions 
that the man was not perfectly “ square, ” 
and some secret reason for believing he was 
disposed to play the part of a stool-pigeon. 

Bristol Bill kept to himself the idea of 
his contemplated “ crack ” in Boston, un- 
til he suddenly found an old acquaintance, 
and most skilful crossman, in the person of 

E h J— m. To him he divulged his 

plan, and was promised the heartiest co-op- 
peTation. A complete sett of “ tools ” was 
procured, and the twain left for Boston. 

On their arrival, J — m went to a third- 
rate hotel at the north part of the city^ 

while Bill, under the sweet name of E , 

put up at the Albion. While maturing 
their plans, J — m fell in with an old pal, 

named Jack S , and induced him to join 

in the “ crack,” and S , in turn, pro- 

cured another confederate, who was un- 
known to the two principals in the plot 
By a week’s watching, Bill became per- 
fectly familiar with the ways of entrance to 


the building, and with the habits of the 
proprietors and clerks. In consequence of 
what he learned, it was determined that 
the robbery must take place between Sat- 
urday night and Monday morning — for no 
person slept in the building, and it was 
seldom entered by any one, during Sun- 
day. 

On the morning of Monday, February 
1st, 1847, the city of Boston — smart citi- 
zens, stupid policemen, and all — was thrown 
into a state of excitement, by the startling 
announcement that the jewelry store oi 
Currier & Trott and Widdefield & Co, 
on the corner of Milk and Washington 
streets, had been broken open since Satur- 
day night, and robbed of a large afnount of 
property, consisting of chains, rings, 
watches, &c, probably of the value of ten 
or twelve thousand dollars. Such a rob- 
bery — perpetrated as it was in a most con- 
spicuous locality, in the very heart of the 
city — could not but surprise ^every one. 
City Marshal Tukey examined the premi- 
ses, and said nothing, and did— nothing ! 
the matter was entirely beyond his compre- 
hension. Officer Clapp, the “ old Hayes ” 
of Boston, peered through his spectacles, 
wiped them, looked mysterious, turned on 
his heel, and went off and arrested a man 
for getting drunk ! The only psrsonal 
matters the burglars left behind them was 
a cold chisel, a short iron bar, and the 
fragments of bread and cold meat on which 
they had feasted during Sunday. 

The police were so vigilant, in a few 
days, as to arrest, William Morton, Wil- 
liam Brown and George Bell, and the tri 3 
were examined on the charge of robbery, 
and committed for trial. They were all. 
however, acquitted by a jury, on the 25th 
of April. In the opinion of the author 
hereof, two were innocent, while the third 
was merely an outside accomplice, entirely 
unacquainted with the two principals in the 

robbery, Bristol Bill and E h J — m. 

One John Smith — an extraordinary name 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


43 


-was also arrested, but no evidence could 
be brought against him, and he was set at 
liberty. Not the slightest clue could be 
obtained to the stolen property, although 
the chief of police pretended to hunt for it 
with untiring zeal for several months. 

The modus operandi of this singular 
robbery was supposed and described to be, 
by the Boston press, as follows. It was be- 
lieved that the thieves obtained access to 
the interior of the building*, through a cel- 
lar window, before the store was closed on 
Saturday evening, and that they remained 
secreted in the cellar during the early part 
of the night — having from that time tintil 
Monday morning ample time for their op- 
erations. When the store was opened on 
Monday, a large iron safe, in which it was 
usual to store the most valuable goods, was 
found to have been forced, and jiearly all 
the contents stolen. «A few articles were 
missing from the show-cases, and also a 
small sum of money. About fifteen hun- 
dred dollars’ worth of gold-bowed specta- 
cles, belonging to Widdifield. & Co, were 
taken, also upwards of a hundred gold 
watches belonging to, or in the possession 
of Currier & Trott — fifty-three of which 
were the property of customers. Very few 
articles of silver were taken, and the affair 
was noticed as being the most systematic 
robbery that had taken place for years. 

The above account is not far from the 
truth — but the author can, and probably 
has, shed a little more light on the subject 
than has ever before been published. 
Merely one of the robbers entered the cel- 
lar door on Saturday evening, and that was 
E h J — m. About midnight, he afford- 
ed entrance to two others — while the fourth 
did “ guard duty ” outside, until the bur- 
glary was completed. Bristol Bill, E — h 

J— m, and Jack S , have the honor of 

being the skilful robbers of Currier & Trotts 
store — how successful, every one knows. 
Mr. George Wilkes, editor of the N. Y. 
Police Gazette, on the occasion of the ar- 


rest of Bell, Morton, and Brown, shrewdly 
observed, in his journal, that the Boston 
Police were on the wrong trail, and truly 
remarked, that Boston must be indebted to 
New York for the author of such a robbery. 
Mr. Wilkes was right, but we doubt if at 
that time he had any definite suspicions of 
such a personage as Bristol Bill: — very 

likely, he had of E h J — m. Had Mr. 

Wilkes been employed to ferret out the 
criminals, we doubt not that at least a por 
tion of them would have been brought to 
justice. But it would have required a 
most superior intelligence, and a master 
mind, to have convicted such a man a:» 
Bristol Bill of anything. He could turn 
his accomplices into mere tools, and use 
them for any purpose as easily as he could 
his “jimmies” and “* jacks ” — all the 
time keeping himself careful and safe, and 
disrobing himself of everything that could 
excite suspicion from the police. Wilkes 
knew that no burglar robbed Currier. & 
Trott’s ; he saw the resemblance between 
that and several burglaries in New York, 
and it was evident that English experience 
and London ingenuity had been brought to 
bear in this instance. 

Bristol Bill paid in cash to Jack S — 
and his unknown comrade, a satisfactory 
sum for the relinquishment of their shares 
in the plunder. Bill then furnished E — h 
J — m with a sum of ready money necessary 
for his immediate expenses, and sent him 
to New York — himself taking possession 
of the entire plunder and storing a part ol 
it in his trunks at the Albion. The rob- 
bers had left the store about ten o’clock on 
Sunday evening. Bill hid a portion of the 
booty under -one end of South Boston bridge 
(the one leading from Sea street,) where 
it remained for a considerable time. In a 
few days, with that portion hid in his 
trunks, he departed for Providence, and 
there disposed of it to his “ fence,” a jew- 
eller, at an immense sacrifice ! Returning 
to Boston, about a month afterwards, ha 


14 


LIFE AND 

took the remainder of the booty from under 
the bridge, and departed for New York. 
This last portion of the spoils passed in*o 
the hands of Sam Drury, and no trace of it 
was afterwards found-r-although it is the 
author’s opinion that some of the watches 
seized by the New York police, at the 
house of Drury, some ^months ago, were 
once the property of Currier & Trott. 

Bristol Bill faithfully paid over to E — h 
J — m a fair share of the proceeds, and the 
twain for a time separated. 

Thus ended one of t*he most cunning and 
skilfully-executed robberies that was ever 
committed in the United States — defying 
alike the inquisitiveness of the public and 
the shrewdness and experience of the po- 
ice. 

The author is a\vare that he is the first 
me to announce, in print, the fact of Bris- 
tol Bill’s connextion with this transaction ; 
out the truth has been derived from undoubt- 
;d and corroborative sources, and leave in 
the writer’s mind no skepticism on the sub- 
ject. Let one who knows the character, 
the habits, and peculiar traits of Bristol 
Bill, study the history of the Currier & 
Trott robbery — recollecting at the same 
time the skill and daring evinced in the 
Poughkeepsie barge affair — and they will 
not attempt to gainsay anything we have 
stated. Let them think of Bill’s invariable 
custom of pushing his inferior accomplices 
into the most apparently conspicuous posi- 
tion, himself, the great leader, keeping 
just so far in the back-ground as to defy 
detection. 


CHAPTER XV. 

BRISTOL BILL AGAIN IN NEW YORK — 

M VRGARET O’CONNOR — ARREST BECOMES 

A ‘ SPOTTED MAN ” INDICTED, AND 

Gt> VS Cijr.AR. 

We next find Mr. William Darlington, 
whas Bristol Bill, in the summer of 1848, 


EXPLOITS 

in the city of New York. “ Flurh with 
the lush,’* he lived like a prince, and was 
considered quite a sporting gentleman. He 
attended the races on Long Island, and bet 
high — dined at Delmonico’s, and took his 
evening oysters at Florence’s. All went 
“ merry as a marriage bell,” especially 
after his happy acquaintance with one Miss 
Margaret O’Connor — a very pretty and fas- 
cinating lady, who was much in need of a 
protector. 

This Margaret O’Connor was a feminine 
of great personal attractions, and about 
twenty-three years of age. She was of 

Scoth descent, and sister to Dick K n, 

who was not long since arrested at South 
Boston, on charge of being concerned in a 
a certain robbery, but for want of evidence 
discharged. There is no little of romance 
connected with the early life of this female. 
She had received a g$od education, and 
possed great musical talent and taste. The 
first situation in which we definitely find 
her, w r as that of a prominent singer in a 
well-known operatic troupe, and her suc- 
cess in this vocation, though young in years, 
was remarkable. Her melodious voice en- 
chanted all hearers, and she even rivalled 
the fair and brilliant leading songstress of 
the troupe who afterwards sang her “ dream 
of marble halls ” wiih such exquisite ef- 
fect. But Margarat’s history was nought 
but the common tale of ruin and desertion- 
cold-hearted treachery had poisoned her 
vitals, and steeled her heart — and down, 
down she sank into the vilest holes of a 
crowded city, the companion of thieves and 
murderers, and rejoicing in the flash appel- 
lation of “ Gookin Peg.” Like Catherine 
Davenport, she also had been employed in 
passing spurious money manufactured by 
those delectable individuals, Ashley, Ben- 
net, Drury, and One Eyed Thompson, the 
very distinguished scholar and chemist. 
She knew the ropes of a crossman’s life 
and was calculated to make a flattering part* 
ner for Bristol Bill. In truth her practi 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


41 


cal geni ns might vie with that of the most 
expert screwsman in the country — she 
could fit a lock and file a key almost as well 
as Bill himself. She was a staunch woman 
and the burglar took her under his protec- 
tion ; and the author would here mention, 
that n® woman ever exhibited more faith- 
fulness, affection and devotion for a man, 
than Margaret O’Connor has evinced to- 
wards Bristol Bill to the present hour. 

One public day, in New York, when 
quite a crowd was gathered on Broadway, 
to witness some passing pageant, a gentle- 
man from Cincinnati suddenly found his 
pocket picked, and raised a great hue and 
cry. The policemen immediately began 
to search the crowd, and one of them stum- 
bled on Bristol Bill, who was standing near 
b y> but perfectly innocent of the theft. The 
officer, without knowing who he was, any 
other than that he was a conspicuous and 
“ spotted ” man, immediately took Bill into 
custody, and conveyed him to the Tombs. 
The next morning, on a brief examination 
of the case, of course no evidence was 
found against Bill, and he was discharged. 
As he was passing out of the main door 
into Centre street, he heard a person (who 
afterwards proved to be a stool-pigeon) 
say to an officer, “ That’s Bristol Bill /” 
and before the burglar had any time to es- 
cape, he was again seized, and carried be- 
fore a Justice. A complaint was hashed- 
up against him, and he was thrown into 
prison, where he laid for a long time. 
After a while, three indictments were found 
against him — one for burglary, one for ob- 
taining goods under false pretences, and 
another for perjury concerning some pre- 
vious matter of bail On these charges — 
which to say the least, were very indefinite 
if not fictitious — Brtstol Bill laid in prison 
for nine months. He employed as counsel 
James T. Brady, Esq., and Thomas War- 
ner — the former a most able and faithful 
advocate, and the latter a man of now une- 
vitable notoriety. Finally, when the in- 


dictments wore returned, in the early pari 
of 1849, after a good deal of exertion on 
the part cf Mr. Brady, the case was arrived 
at ; and, counsel pleading successfully the 
statute of limitations, (in reference to the 
date of the offences charged,) Bill was se, 
at liberty. This action cost him the sum 
of $3,800, and reduced his finances not a 
little. 

Previous to his being thrown into prison, 
Bill manifested his love for the fair sex, by 
keeping three mistresses — one in New 
York, one in Brooklyn, and the other in 
Jersey City. On his release, however, he 
resumed the protection of but one of the 
trio — Margaret O’Connor. 

Shortly after this, finding business dull, 
and in the full love of adventure, Bill con- 
templated joining the Cuban expedition. 
At this time there was a band of Spanish 
officers in New York, seeking the means 
and men for revolutionizing the Gem of 
the Antilles. They held secret meetings, 
and quite a large number of men were in- 
duced to join in the enterprise. Bill, in 
common with the public, knew that such 
an expedition was on foot, and he soon 
found out the place of rendezvous. Ignor- 
ant of who their man was, but selecting him 
from the crowd, the officers unfolded to 
him their plans, and offered him a company 
commission — picturing in glowing terms 
the reward of the enterprise, and hinting at 
the strong boxes of old Castilians, and the 
beauty of the Cuban women. Bill went 
into the preliminary arrangements heart 
and soul, and even induced some half a 
dozen of his old pals to join him. Matters 
were going on swimmingly, it was said, in 
all the cities, and the expedition would be 
ready for a descent, from some southern 
port, in the* course of a month or two. But, 
suddenly, Bill became irritated at the con- 
duct of some of the foreigners who were 
conducting the affair, accused them of cow 
ardice and duplicity, and left the field in 
j disgust. The expedition afterwards wa« 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


46 

broken op, and many a dream of “booty 
and beauty” was nipped in the bud 


CHAPTER XVI. 

MARGARET O’CONNOR AND BRISTOL BILL IN 

BOSTON MARGARET ARRESTED DRURY 

REFUSES BAIL BILL ARRESTED AND 

“ SHOWN UP,” ETC 

During- the month jf July, 1849, the 
Boston police were informed by officers in 
New York, that a celebrated English bur- 
glar named William Darlington, alias 
Bristol Bill, had left Gotham for the mod- 
ern Athens, probably on business connect- 
ed with« his profession. An imperfect de- 
scription of Bill’s person accompanied this 
information, and certain members of the 
police department were directed by Mar- 
shal Tukey to look after the “distinguish- 
ed arrival.” 

About the latter part of the month, Mr. 
Tukey was informed that a vast number of 
bills on the Eagle Bank, of Bristol, R. I., 
altered from l’s to 10, s, were in circula- 
tion, and it was evident that there was a 
systematic attempt to make the store-keep- 
ers of the city the victims of this spurious 
money. These altered bills were so neat- 
ly executed, that many of them even found 
their way into the Suffolk Bank. Consid- 
erable alarm was felt in certain business 
quarters, with regard to these last extensive 
counterfeits. The Marshal immediately 
caused to be circulated printed notices — 
“ Beware of altered bills on the Eagle 
Bank, of Bristol, R. I.,” &c, and at the 
same time set the police on a strici watch. 

On the afternoon of Monday, July 30th, 
a very pretty and well-dressed, female, an- 
swering to the name of Margaret O’Con- 
nor, was brought into .the Police Court, 
charged with having passed several coun- 
terfeit bills of the description before men- 
tioned She was readily identified as a 


person who naa recently passed similai 
bills at various dry goods stores in Han 
over street. Her career had been stopped 
by attempting to put one upon a Mr. At- 
kins, a trader on Washington street ; but 
it unfortuately happened for the young la- 
dy, that, at the moment she offered the 
bill, Mr. A. was leading the notice of “Be 
ware,” which had just been thrown into 
the store. His suspicions were excited, 
and he thought it advisable to have the 
lady taken into custody. It was supposed 
that this woman had always accomplices 
attending her. By making a small pur- 
chase, and offering an altered $10 bill, she 
w'ould receive at least $9 in good money — 
a few steps from the store, she would be 
met by a man who would take, unperceiv- 
ed, the good money, and give her another 
of the altered bills — and in this way it is 
probable that quite a flourishing business 
had been carried on for some time. 

Miss Margaret O’Connor admitted that 
she hailed from New York, but her lips 
w j ere closed to all questions respecting 
herself and supposed accomplices. It was 
said that she at one time gave the name ot 
Ann Nuger. Evidence was too strong 
against her on the examination, and she 
w'as held for trial in the Municipal Court 
at the August term, and her bail fixed at 
$ 2000 . 

About this time, it w T as apparent that 
the woman had active friends working in 
her behalf, and it became a matter of inter- 
est to the police to discover who these per- 
sons w'ere. A very gentlemanly, well- 
dressed man had called on an able lawyer, 
and retained him as counsel in the case — 
and arduous but unsuccessful attempts were 
made to have the amount of bail reduced. 

On the 11th of August, a b ; 11 against 
Margaret O’Connor was returned by the 
Grand Jury to the Municipal Court, and, 
on being arraigned at the bar, the prisoner, 
in sweet tones and witli charming naivety 
pleaded not guilty. Her trial commenced 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


4 . 


on Friday, August 17th, and at the dis- 
mission of the Court quite an interesting 
little incident occurred. The officer who 
had the lady in charge was making his 
way from the court-house, followed by 
Margaret, to a carriage, in which to con- 
vey the prisoner back to jail. The officer, 
suddenly turning round to look after his | 
fair charge, discovered her quietly walking 
off, at not a slow gait, in company with a 
stranger. She was immediately retaken, 
and placed gently in the carriage. The 
stranger walked away, but was recognized 
as an individual, (remarkable for his fine 
head of black hair and his luxuriant whis- 
kers,) who had been in the court- room near- 
ly all day. This gentleman was Bristol 
Bill, somewhat disguised. 

It is well known that the counterfeit mo- 
ney was the manufacture of Drury & Co. 
It so happened, that at the time of Marga- 
ret O’Connor’s arrest, Samuel Drury was 
in Boston, and of course, (as was the cus- 
tom of the gang on such occasions,) Bill 
applied to him for money to bail Margaret. 
The burglar had some funds of his own, 
but not enough to make up the required 
amount — and he had a right to expect as- 
sistance from Drury. But the miserly old 
* wretch from Long Island considered that 
the Eagle Bank game was up. and if any 
of the gang were now in trouble he had' 
better let them stay there. He refused to 
give one cent — turned a deaf ear to Bill’s 
entreaties, and departed for New York. 
Not many months elapsed, ere Drury was 
in prison and the whole stupendous tem- 
ple of villany exploded. The public owe 
much to the shrewdness and ingenuity of 
Mr. George Wilkes, of New York, in in- 
vestigating this matter. 

Well, Bristol Bill worked like a dog to 
obtain the money by which he might re- 
lease Margaret. He made a trip to New 
York, but could find few of his old confeder- 
ates who were willing, or if willing were 
able, to assist him. He returned to Boston 


with the most complete sett of burglar’* 
tools that was ever captured by the police ; 
he had no other resort, and he meant to 
make a bold “ crack.” But before his pre- 
parations were concluded, he met with an 
obstacle to his movements, in the shape of 
an arrest of himself, and the capture of 
I his superb cabinet of instruments. 

The Boston officers, although long since 
warned of the proximity of Wm. Darling- 
ton, did not yet know their man. Yet Bill 
was tracked to and fro, as a suspicious cha- 
racter, on account of his apparent connez 
ion with Margaret O’Connor. The first 
definite information wffiich the police receiv- 
ed, came from a notorious thief, named 
Jack H s, who one day, in the court- 

house, pointed out Darlington to an officer, 
saving — “ That’s Bristol Bill !” and added 
enough to lead to Bill’s whereabouts. 

Certain members of the police, if left to 
themselves, would have done the business 
most uniquely, but, obliged to act under 
the directions of a stupid chief, the whole 
matter was hastened, and tne fruit was 
plucked before it was ripe. The genteel 
stranger who so adroitly and coolly attempt- 
ed the escape of Miss O’Connor, was, after 
a good deal of “ doubling ” tracked to a 
most respctable looking house, at No. 2, 
Essex Place. It was suspected, by a little 
w r atching, that this was the rendezvous of 
criminals of a various degroe. The sapient 
Marshal soon caused to be issued from the 
Municipal Court a warrant for the arrest of 
James Edgerton and wife, on the charge of 
keeping a house of ill-fame at No. 2 Essex 
Place. The execution of this warrant 
brought some astonishing facts to light, 
but in reality effected little for the cause of 
public nistice. 

Early on v Sunday morning August I3ih, 
the house of Edgerton was visited by a trio 
of the police, bent on an important expedition 
of discovery. Edgerton and his lady were 
found in the position that must naturally be 
expected from man and wife, and the office 


*9 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


proceeded to fa i ther search the hov.se. On 
entering one of the rooms, the “strange 
gentleman,” Mr. Bristol Bill, was found 
alone in bed, and politely requested to rise 
and don his wardrobe. While this opera- 
tion was going on, an officer had found four 
gold watches in a bureau drawer, in the 
room of the Edgertons, and the remaing two 
were busily occupied in examining the con- 
tents of a small trunk in Bilks room. The 
undaunted burglar looked coolly on, and in 
reply to an inquiry, carelessly remarked — 
“ Oh, those are merely my tools 1” There 
was a splendid instrument which would 
cut a hole through an iron door in very few 
minutes — there were the English “jim- 
mies,” bits, and augurs, chisels, pincers, 
*aws, a loaded pistol, and skeleton keys 
without number. Bill and the Edgertons 
were taken into custody, and the collection 
of curiosities was transported to the City 
Marshal’s office. It was soon ascertained 
that Margaret O’Connor, from her previous 
habits and connexions, was the only proper 
person necessary to make a perfect quartette 
— and some rights and privileges which 
Mr Tukey assumed in the matter were, to 
say the least, rather equivocal, if not illegal 
and unjustifiable. Margaret O’Connor was 
on trial at the time, and her case had not 
yet gone to the jury. Yet the City Mar- 
♦hall took upon himself the responsibility of 
carrying her from the court-house to his 
office, and with the three others, of “ show- 
ing up ” the woman as one of a gang of 
thieves and counterfeiters. 

During Saturday, quite a large crowd 
assembled to see the lions of the day. The 
City Marshal gave a luminous notice of 
Bristol Bill, mentioned his reputation as a 
burglar, and exhibited to a wondering pub- 
lic the trophies of the arrest. Bill stood 
perfectly at ease, smiling amiably at the 
City Marshal’s remarks, and looking care- 
lessly at the crowd before him. The four 
prisoners were then conveyed to jail. But 
os Monday, Bristol Bill was set at liberty, 


in consequence 1 of the police being unable 
to maintain any charge against him. The 
Marshal, however, held on to Bill’s 
professional equipments, which the burglai 
at first did not seem to relish, but .finally 
remarked — “ Well, I can get another sett 
airy time !” 


CHAPTER. XVII. 

bill’s ATTEMPT TO RESCUE MARGARET 
O’CONNOR FROM LEVERETT STREET JAIL— 
THE EDGERTONS — STEPHEN W. FOSTER 
GOES BAIL INTERESTING INTERVIEW BE- 
TWEEN FOSTER AND BRISTOL BILL THE 

BURGLAR “ CUTS A SWATH ” IN BOSTON. 

Before Margaret O’Connor was brought 
to trial, Bristol Bill, with his characteris- 
tic daring and ingenuity, had conceived a 
notion of rescuing her from the prison — 
and, it must be confessed, he was not far 
from succeeding in his object. We have 
known of criminals endeavoring to break 
out of Leverett street jail, but this is the 
only instance within our memory of a bur- 
glar attempting to force his way in. 

He studied well the locality of the build- 
ing and the cell in which Margaret O'Con- 
nor was confined. One dark night, with a 
rope ladder, he made his way over the wall, 
(on Leverett street,) and, avoiding care- 
fully the watchman, proceeded to the 
outer door of the further jail building. 
With his wax implements he obtained an 
impression of the lock, and then cautiously 
departed. In a short time he finished a 
key which would unlock the outer door, 
and, incredible as it may seem, on different 
nights he actually entered the jail— made 'a 
key to the ; nner door, and had obtained an 
impression from which he was to make a 
a key to Margaret’s cell door, when he w T as 
detected, and the whole plan frustrated. 

It was the night before Margaret O’Con- 
nor's trial came on, and Bill went to the 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


49 


}&£! to fit his last key. Everj thing looked 
successful, and he expected by the ensuing 
night to ease his devoted mistress from 
“ durance vile.” He made bis way inside, 
proceeded to Margaret’s cell, made such 
an examination of the lock as was necessary 
and silently left the budding. Creeping 
cautiously through the yard, he reached the 
wall, where hung hi? rope ladder. Just 
then lie heard footsteps, and knew that the 
watchman was near by, going his rounds. 
Bill had barely time to secret himself, and 
the watchman almost brushed Iris person as 
he passed. Waiting a sufficient time, Bill 
then scaled the wall, and jumped upon the 
sidewalk — but, as luck would have it, al- 
most into the arms of a guardian of the night. 
The w’atchman was considerably startled, 
but attempted to seize bis prey. Bill made 
off like a race-horse, ?nd escaped. A day 
or two after that, he was arrested, shown 
up, and discharged, while means were taken 
to keep Margaret more secure. 

Bristol Bill after his discharge from cus- 
tody, became the lion of the town. With 
a perfectly cool and gentlemanly hearing, 
and with the reputation of being the most 
expert and successful cracksman in the 
country, he elicited a sort of admiration 
from nearly every one. He visited places 
of amusement like a sober citizen, and on 
the Sabbath attended church. Some of the 
police seemed to take quite a fancy for him, 
and he was often in their company, as they 
went about the city on duty. Bill freely 
admitted that he was a burglar — hut wish- 
ed it to he distinctly understood that he 
never engaged himself in any “ small busi- 
ness ” — that when he made a “ crack,” it 
was a bold and a big one, and he never left 
anything behind for a police officer to catch 
him by. He even jokingly remarked that 
he might give a specimen of his skill be- 
fore long. But with all their “pumping,” 
Bill was too dexterous to ever give the of- 
ficers any tangible fact which could cause 
hie arrest on any purtieulai charge. 


Edgerton and his wife baa been exnmin 
ed on two charges — that of keeping a house 
of ill-fame, and of being receivers of stolen 
goods— and were held for trial in the Mu- 
nicipal Court. They endeavored to get 
bail, and sent for one Stephen W. Foster, 
a speculating individual, somewhat suspect- 
ed of being a “fence,” and who, a few 
years since, acted in the capacity of a stool- 
pigeon for officer C . This Foster be- 

came bail for the Edgertons, with the un- 
derstanding that he was to have their tur- 
niture, &c., made over to him, as security 
against loss. Thusmatters remained fora 
day or two, when Foster found himself un- 
able to arrange the papers of transfer, on 
account of the mysterious absence of Ed 
gerton. He therefore proceeded to the 
house in Essex Place — entered, either by 
violence or by means of false keys — and 
packed up and removed two loads of furni - 
ture. He wal busily engaged in prepar- 
ing a third load, when a man suddenly en- 
tered the house, seized the astonished F es- 
ter by the collar of his coat, and in a sten- 
torian voice demanded — “ You infernal 
scoundrel! what business have you here* 
what have you done with my furniture?’ 
And the speaker, who was none other than 
Bristol Bill, gave Mr. Foster an unceremo- 
nious “ shaking up,” without, however, 
doing him any serious violence. Foster 
persisted in refusing to tell where he had 
conveyed the missing furniture. Bristol 
Bill informed him that the furniture was 
his property — that it had been mortgaged 
by Mr. Edgerton to Mr. William Darling- 
ton, and for proof of the same would re- 
spectfully refer him to the Register’s of- 
fice, where the deed was recorded. Foster 
was quite confounded, but would give no 
information, and left the house, the keys o. 
which Bristol Bill put in his own pocket. 
The burglar threatened to lodge a complaint 
against Foster for house breaking and lar 
ceny — stating that the missing property 
was legally his, and he should use all oio 


50 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


per means to recover possession of it. This 
curious affair created considerable sensa- 
tion, and one of the principal Boston jour- 
nals remarked as follows : — “ What the 
final issue of this matter will be, remains 
to be seen ; but the fact of a person very 
recently * shown up ’ as a notorious bur- 
glar, having in his possession at the time 
of his arrest the most perfect and complete 
sett of burglar’s tools ever seen in this city, 
lodging a complaint against another person 
(who had bailed his supposed accomplices) 
for a crime punishable in the State Prison 
for a term of years, is a circumstance .of no 
ordinary occurrence.” We believe that 
Bill endeavored to procure a warrant for 
the arrest of Foster, but the Justice to 
whom the application was made refused to 
grant it. The Edgertons had vamosed, 
but were followed and captured by Foster, 
and some satisfactory arrangement was af- 
terwards made between the parties — though 
Foster, in the end, found that he had been 
seriously “bitten.” 

Margaret O’Connor was found guilty, by 
the jury, of passing counterfeit money, al- 
though one or two jurors for a long while 
stuck out against such a verdict. One of 
these was*a Mr. Squires who was a par- 
ticular friend of Foster’s, and was after- 
wards tried and acquitted on a charge of 
passing bad money ; the other juror was a 
non-resistant and an ultraist of the Garri- 
son school, and didn’t like to find a verdict 
of guilty against anybody. But they both 
. finally yielded to the majority. Margaret 
would probably have gone to the House of 
Correction for two or three years, but she 
remained for some time in jail awaiting sen- 
tence, which has never been given — she 
having been bailed and sent to New York 
as a witness on the Drury trials. 

For a month . or two after Margaret's 
conviction, Bristol Bill was in the city 
most of the time — apparently taking it 
easy but really having his head full of 
business — maneuvering, and laying cun- 


ning plans for the future. The police felt 
quite interested and concerned with regard 
to him— but the supposed robber of Currier 
& Trptt was too much for them, and 
walked about as independently as a mi 
lionaire. 


CHAPTER XVIII 

THE BURGLAR AT WORK AGAIN FOSTEli 

SPECULATES IN NEW YORK MONEY FOS 

TER “GETS BIT” — HISTORY AND SE- 
QUEL OF THE TRANSACTION BILL’S TRA- 

VELS. 

During the fall of 1849, Bristol Bill was 
quite busy in “ prospecting,” or laying 
plans and preparations for future robberies. 
It was he who planned the successful 
breaking open of the Phoenix Bank, at 
Westerly, R. I and also of the Dorchea 
ter and Milton Bank — both of which rob- 
beries were eventually committed by his 
pals, who used his false keys and tpols. 
Bill himself made an attempt on the 
Georgetown Bank that fall, which failed , 
and tried the same game again, early the 
next spring, which came very near being 
successful. 

It will be recollected that Stephen W 
Foster was tried in New York for attempt- 
ing to pass an altered $500 bank note to a 
broker in Wall street j named Colgate, and 
that on a second trial he was acquitted, 
there being no proof that Foster knew it 
was counterfeit. Some curious particulars 
concerning this affair may not be uninter- 
esting, especially as Foster has repeated- 
ly, in private, charged ths^t Bristol Bill was 
the individual who “ put up the game ”by 
which he was defrauded. One day last 
fall, (1849,) the attention of Bo»tonians 
was attracted to handbills on the corners of 
the streets, announcing the loss of some 
$2500 in New York bills, supposed to have 
been picked from a gentleman’s pocket 
while on his way from the Worcester De» 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


51 


po to State street But as no complaint 
of Lie kind had been left at the Marshal’s 
office, the police did not see fit to look into 
the matter. It afterwards turned out (so 
it is said) that these handbills were only a 
guy gotten up by Bristol Bill and a confed- 
erate. In a day or two after the placards 
were posted, a man went to Foster, inti- 
mated that he had a certain amount of New 
York money that was advertised as stolen 
or lost, and offered a first-rate- bargain if 
Foster would buy it. The man was a 
stranger, but the chance to make $500 
was too much for Foster’s cupidity to re- 
sist ; so he went to friends and borrowed 
the necessary funds, without, however, 
telling them all he knew of the contemplat- 
ed speculation. The stranger had appoint- 
ed the Common as a place of interview, at 
a certain hour in the afternoon, and the bar- 
gain was to be there concluded. Foster 
took a bank note detector, and with a friend 
(Squires,) repaired to the spot, where 
they found the stranger. The New York 
bills were produced, and Foster and Squires 
examined them by the Detector, but found 
nothing to lead them to suspect that the 
bills were anything but genuine. Foster 
merely supposed that they were the good 
money recently advertised as stolen in Bos- 
ton. So he paid over some first-rate funds, 
and the parties separated. Foster started 
for New York with what purported to be a 
$500 bill on the Mechanics’ and Trades- 
men’s Bank of that city, offered it to two 
different brokers, requesting gold in ex- 
change, and suddenly found to his chagrin 
that the bill was an -altered one, and that 
he had been severely duped. He did not 
stop to be arrested, but left the bill behind 
him, and returned to Boston. Afterwards, 
' however, he gave himself up, and request- 
ed a trial, pleading ignorance as to the mo- 
ney being bad when he attempted to pass 
it. Mr. Colgate, at the trial, testified that 
Fester said he was goingto California, and 
therefore wanted gold, and that he received 
4 # 


die bill of a man named Shaw. John C. 
Park, Esq, of Boston, defended Foster, and 
after relating his client’s own story (a little 
different from the above) to the jury ,, a ver- 
dict of not guilty was rendered, and Foster 
was discharged. He then set to work to see 
what could be done in the way of redress, 
but he was liable, by probing the matter, to 
only burn his own fingers worse. He h;*> 
confidently stated, however, that the stran- 
ger who “ sold him ” was the notorious 

E h J — m, and that the whole affair 

was instigated by Bristol Bill, who v as 
standing on the Common, not far distant, 
when the bargain was made. This, he 
says, was an after discovery. 

One thing is certain, Bristol Bill was in 
the city about that time. Arrangements 
were going on for the liberation of Marga- 
ret O’Connor on bail, for the purpose ot 
taking her to New York, to testify against 
Drury and One-Eyed Thompson. Bill, 
therefore, was frequently travelling between 
New York and Boston, and was wide 
awake to any scheme by w hich he might 
“ raise the lush,” and perhaps at the same 
time gratify a little pique against a man for 
whose morality and ability he had little 
veneratoin. Foster made several attempts 
to overhaul Bill, but the Vermonters got 
him first. The worthy Stephen has since 
departed for California, there to make up 
his losses experienced from peculiar kinds 
!*of speculation. 

On one of Bill’s frequent visits to New 
York, during that Fall, the Police Ga- 
zette facetiously announced the “ distb* 
guished arrival ” as follows : 

“Bill Darlington, alias Bristol Bill, as- 
sistant chief of the Boston police, undo-* 
Marshal Tu key, honored this city with % 
visit by the Wednesday morning bo»‘ 
There have been already many surmises a* 
to the object of his visit, some ascribing it 
to a desire to supply himself w r ith a new r kit 
of burglar’s instruments ; others to a wish 
to inspect the construction of the vaults oi 


62 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


f.he new build .nns for the Chemical and 
Exchange Banks ; while the fewest num- 
ber ascribe it to a desire on his part to em- 
brace Christianity under the ministration 
of the Rev J. H. Green, of the Brooklyn 
Centenary Church. 


CHAPTER XIX. 

THE CELEBRATED TORPEDO CASE — ONE EYED 
THOMPSON AND BRISTOL BILL — DflURY AND 
SON ARRESTED THEIR PRIVATE CONFES- 
SIONS J “GAME ALLROUND.” 

Few of the present generation will for- 
get the curiosity awakened and the excite- 
ment. created by the arrest of Samuel Drury 
and his son, during the latter part of 1849. 
The arrest brought to light such a tremen- 
dous array of almost incredible facts — ex- 
posed such a gigantic scheme of villainy — 
that the public w'ere astounded. Mr. 
'Wilkes, of the National Police Gazette , 
w'as the individual who so creditably ferret- 
ed out the chiefs in the most extensive gang 
of criminals ever known in this country. 

In May, 1849, a torpedo box was sent to 
the house of one Thomas Warner, a lawyer 
in New York city. By its explosion, Mr. 
Warner and his family were placed in great 
jeopardy, and barely escaped with their 
jives. Some months afterwards, Mr. 
Samuel Drury was arrested on the charge 
of sending the box, with the intention of 
killing Mr. Warner, w ith whom he former- 
merly had business, and subsequently quar- 
relled with. On searching Drury’s house 
at Astoria, counterfeiting apparatus and an 
immense amount of jew : elry and suspicious 
goods were discovered — leading to criminal 
charges additional to those at first contem- 
plated. Mr. Wilkes, in his endeavors to 
bring Drury to justice, sought the co-opera- 
tion of One-Eyed Thompson and Bristol 
Bill. It was necessary to obtain some ad- 
missions from both Drury and his son, and 
traps were laid accordingly. 


Thompson first volunteered U comment 
the business, by luring young Drury to a 
conference, and obtaining admissions front 
him unsuspected. On the 17th of Septem- 
ber, Thompson pursuaded Drury’s son tc 
accompany him to the Starr Tavern, w'hera 
they entered, and sat down in a small pri- 
vate apartment in the rear of the bar-room. 
Mr. Wilkes and a man named Johnson, 
according to previous concert, were at the 
tavern before the other parties, and when 
Thompson and young Drury arrived and 
entered the room before mentioned, John 
son, at the direction of Wilkes, took a posi- 
tion outside of the house, at the open win- 
dow, so that he could both hear and see all 
that was going on. Thompson commenced 
the conversation shrewdly, discoursing 
cunningly aud learnedly on the subject ol 
hens and women, game cocks and children, 
and other topics calculated to interest the 
young man and disarm suspicion of what 
he was driving at. When he had got 
young Drury into proper tune, Thompson 
suddenly asked him — 

“ It is rather a delicate subject, Sam, but 
how does the old man use you ?” 

Drury replied — “ You know r what he is; 
when he is sober I have no trouble with 
him — but -when he drinks and gets excited 
I suffer a great deal.” 

Thompson then said — “ About that tor- 
pedo box, Sam, do you think everything is 
safe about that?” 

Sam replied — “ I think it is.” 

Thompson then carelessly remarked that 
the man w ho made the box was out of the 
way, for he had been sent to California. 
The young scamp remained unsuspicious 
and Thompson proceeded — 

“ Sam, how came you to carry the box 
there ?” 

Drury immediately answered — “ I never 
should have carried it, if my father had not 
compelled me !” 

Thus Thompson cunningly led the fel- 
low on, until he had obtained from him s 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


53 


whole, history of the transaction. Young 
Drury told how he had disguised himself 
as a negro, and carried the- box under his 
cloak to Warner’s house — how he rang the 
bell, and when the door opened gave the 
box to the servant girl, with the direction 
to “ hand it to Massa Warner.” The boy 
naturally supposing that Thompson knew 
all about the matter, conversed freely, and 
related every necessary particular. The 
two had been eating during this time, and 
the conversatien ended, they rose to depart. 

Johnson, who had listened to all that was 
said, that evening noted down the dialogue 
and afterwards swore to it in Court. 

The next step was to entrap the elder 
Drury to some place, and worm a confes- 
sion of his villany from his own lips. For 
this purpose, Bristol Bill’s ingenious talents 
were called into play. A third-story back 
room, at No. 23 Fulton street, Brooklyn, 
was procured, which Bill was to apparently 
occupy. He was to pretend that he was 
ii lying'low,” and Drury was to be told that 
he had the money of the late Provincetown 
robbery. Thompson was to lure Drury to 
Bill’s room, for the purpose of buying the 
“ swag.” The arrangements were per- 
fected, and the day came when Drury was 
to make his appearance |tMr. Darlington’s 
apartment. 

Leading out of Bill’s room, was a large 
cioset, and in this place were secreted, 
under the direction of Mr. Wilkes, police 
officers Jenkins and Crassous, while A. M. 
C. Smith and others were near by. Bill 
had his coat off, and was at a table, seem- 
ingly engaged in waiting. Pretty soon, 
Thompson and Drury came, and there was 
a general shaking of hands, and the two 
last comers took seats. 

On sitting down, Drury said to Bill — 
“ So. they have got you close !” 

“ Acs, ” said the burglar — “for a few 
days.” 

A conversation w’as then commenced 
by Thompson, in reference to the Province- 


town money w\ 'oh Bill had, and Dn:ry 
asked Bill if he l\ad the whole command of 
it. 

Bill said — “ Yes, I have got it planted. ' 

Drury then remarked — “ When I under' 
take any business of this kind, I always do 
it up right away — delays are dangerous ’ 

Thompson enquired the denomination of 
the bills, and Darlington gave a description 
of them. 

Drury said that was well, and that they 
could be easily disposed of. He then asked 
Bill when he could get them, and if he could 
not come up to his house. 

Bill replied that he dared not come over 
fliere — they might nab him. 

Drury, however, agreed to place all dan 
ger out of his way, and arrangements were 
calculated for a future interview 7 . 

And now r came the point when Thompson 
and Bristol Bill were to lead old Drury into 
an admission of one of his crimes, to be 
listened to by the secreted 'policemen, an<ii 
afterwards testified against him. 

Thompson led off, by saying — “That 
G — d d d Warner, I ain’t safe any- 
where while he is about, I wish that ma- 
chine had gone off in the night-time, 
instead of when it did; or if the place bad 
been closed, it would have blown him to 

hell ! He suspected me of it — bat you 
know (speaking to Drury) that I knew 
nothing of it. I am going to make one, 
and I hope I shall be more successful. 

Bill then charged Thompson w r ith hav- 
ing sent the torpedo box. 

Thompson said — “ No, no, I knew' noth- 
ing of the last — that was Drury’s— but I 
am going to father this ; I shall put ten 
pounds of powder in mine. I don’t know 
how much was >n yours — (addressing 
Drury.) 

Bill interruptedly asking Drury — “How 
much was in yours ?” 

The old villain immediately replied— 
“ Three pounds.” 

“Well, I shall have ten pounds in min#, 




$ 

& 

\ 


*4 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


said Thompson — “ and that will blow the 
house from its foundation to the skies. 1 
hope I shall be more successful than you 
was.” 

“ I hope so,” Drury replied — “1 have 
lone my best. But how are you to get 
mto the house 1” 

Thompson said that Bristol Bill was to 
see to that. 

“Yes,” said Bill — “leave that tome.” 

Something was said about the key to the 
door of the house, when Bill added — 
“ Pshaw ! nippers will do that — leave it to 
me.” 

“ Well,” said Drury, “ if we three stick 
together, all hell can’t catch us !” 

Thus the conversation went on. Bill and 
Thompson pretended that they were going 
to California, and-w r ere going to do “ the 
iob ” the night before they went. 

This conference lasted some two hours 
and a half, while the trio sat at their ease, 
indulging in some cigars and brandy, 
which Bill brought forth from a closet. 

Drury finally departed, and the officers 
left their hiding-place. 

On the evidence here and otherwise ob- 
tained, Drury was shortly afterwards ar- 
rested, and his situation was made the worse 
from she fact that when he w r as taken sev- 
eral of his own altered and counterfeit bills 
were found upon him. 


CHAPTER XX. 

ONE EYED THOMPSON ON TRIAL FOR COUN- 
TERFEITING HIS HISTORY AND PERSONAL 

APPEARANCE CATHERINE DAVENPORT 

MAKES AN EXPOSE— CHRISTIAN MEADOWS 

INVOLVED YOUNG DRURY’S EVIDENCE 

MARGARET 0*C0NN0R THOMPSON’S OWN 

ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF. 

Drury was now bent on revenge, and he 
b - ought all his diabolical forces to bear. 
One-Eyed Thompson was soon arrested on 
the various charges of making the torpedo 
box to kill Warner, of forgery, and making 


counterfeit money. Here were two most 
notorious scoundrels a battle with each other 
and each had a focman worthy of his steei. 

Warner proceeded to Boston and bailed 
Margaret O’Connor, and she was carried to 
New York as a government witness. 

We shall not pretend to review any one 
of the trials that have taken place in New 
York ; but as a great many facts were eli- 
cited that shed much light on the operations 
of the gang, including Bristol Bill and two 
of his mistresses, we shall refer to portions 
of the evidence as given on the trial ot 
Thompson for forgery. 

This William H. Thompson is an Ame- 
rican by birth, and was bred a printer. He 
is a man of good education and peCuliai 
talents, but some disappointment in youth 
is said to have made the man morose in 
disposition, and caused him to entertain a 
general pique against mankind. Pie has 
devoted himself much to the study of che- 
mistry, and become quite an expert* in ex- 
perimenting therein. Among other things 
he has practised as a doctor, and produced 
some remarkable medicines. Pressed hard 
in his pecuniary affairs, in 1840, he became 
leagued with a band of thieves, and was 
involved in several charges of burglary ; but 
he escaped, partly Through some legal tech- 
nicality, and partly by reason of some in- 
formation which he gave to the authorities. 
He then, for a few years, kept a drug store, 
but in 1846 was again arrested for burglary 
in company with one Johnson. The latter 
was convicted ; but Thompson, when 
brought to trial, defended his own case, and 
was acquitted. He then joined the Drury 
and Ashley gang, and his connection with 
those arch villains will be seen as we pro- 
ceed. 

Thompson was brought to trial at Brook- 
lyn, and charged with having made coun- 
terfeit bills on the Eagle Bank, of Bristol 
R. I., and passed, the same to Joseph C. 
Ashley. The prisoner, as usual, relied 
I on his own ability, and acted as his owb 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


55 


iawyer. Thompson came into court, at- 
tended by ah officer, and looked calmly 
upon the gazing multitude, perfectly coo^ 
and self-possessed. He is a tall man, 
slender but firmly-set? figure ; his complex- 
ion pale ; his forehead high and bold ; nose 
straight ; mouth well-formed, and contain- 
ing a good set of teeth ; and all that ren- 
ders his frontispiece imperfect is the loss 
of one eye. On this occasion, he was neat- 
ly dressed in a suit of black, his shirt-col- 
lar being turned down a la Byron. 

Several witnesses were first introduced 
to show that Ashley had passed several 
counterfeit bills, and finally Catharine Dav- 
enport was called to the stand. She said 
she was unmarried, but had two children 
by Bristol Bill. She had lived in Thomp- 
son’s house, near New Utrecht, and had 
seen a man named Fields (alias Meadows) 
there ; he had come with Thompson 
from Boston, and staid three months. 
There was a room in the house, where 
Thompson kept his books and bottles — 
there were a number of bottles with glass- 
stoppers, and a press ; and Catharine had 
seen Fields and Thompson pack the press 
in a barrel, and send it away. In Thomp- 
son’s sleeping room the witness had seen 
bank bills; some were on the floor, and oth- 
ers were pasted on pieces, of glass cut to 
suit the size of the bill. She had also seen 
Thompson’s wife take some of these bills 
and lay them on the bed to dry. Wit- 
ness said she had passed three bills in 
Brooklyn which Thompson had given her 
to pass away; he told her to be careful, and 
not to mention any name if anything hap- 
pened, and he would send a lawyer to her. 
She passed the bills in butchers’ stalls, and 
gave the change to Thompson ; he told her 
the bills were good, but a little alteration 
had been made in them. 

At this point, Thompson wanted to in- 
troduce an affidavit made by Catharine Da- 
venport some time before, and was allowed 
to read it. The substarce of the document 


was in direct contradiction to the evidence 
just given. But Catharine went on to tes- 
tify that Thompson had read it to her, and 
told her it was to serve Bristol Bill ; that 
he did not want her as a witness, and the 
affidavit should only be used to serve Bill. 
She was asked if she had sworn to it, and 
replied that she supposed she had : she 
held up her hand, but did not at the time 
think there was any harm in it. 

Catharine then proceeded to testify that 
besides the bills before mentioned, she had 
passed ten of the same kind that Ashley 
was charged with passing ; that Thornp 
son had said four of them were well done 
and six badly done — the former she had to 
pass in the daytime, and the others at 
night, at the market and at dry goods 
stores. The contents of Thompson’s bot- 
tles were of different colors ; she had seen 
him dip a bill into a bottle, and then hang 
it up to dry. The witness, during her 
cross-examination, said she had known 
Bristol Bill for six or seven years ; and 
that she had heard he had been arrested 
through Thompson’s instrumentality. Ir. 
answer to a question, she replied that Bris- 
tol* Bill had never given her any counter- 
feit money — Margaret O’Connor had giv- 
en her $20 in good money, but never any 
bad. 

Young Sam Drury, on being called as a 
witness, said he was at Thompson’s house 
during the month of July, 1849^ One day, 
while at dinner, a tall man (probably Mead- 
ows) came and called Thompson out. 
When T. returned, he asked Sam to make 
a journey for him — he wanted him to goto 
Bristol, R, 1., and get $500 in one-dollar 
notes, which w r ere wanted by the tall man, 
who was an iron manufacturer at Pottsville. 
Sam went, but got only $*15, all the small 
money the Bank had. Tn^pipson next 
to wanted him to go a certain* store, and get 
a small bag for him in the name of Carr — 
and Sam did so. When the bag was op- 
ened, Thompson took out two small cop* 


66 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


per plates, with a “ 5 ” and a “ 10 ” on 
them. 

The witnesses that had been called to 
appear against Thompson presented a most 
formidable array. There were the Drurys, 
Arlington Bennett and his daughter, Ash- 
ley and his family, Bristol Bill’s two 
women, police officers, servant girls, en- 
gravers, cartmen, lawyers, &c. 

Ashley testified that Thompson had paid 
him a debt in the bad money which he af- 
terwards passed — making himself out an 
innocent, injured individual, and Thomp- 
son all that was guilty. 

Bennett swore that he used to visit 
Thompson's house frequently, and there 
saw a man named Fields, or Meadows, an 
engraver, the same one who was recently 
arrested with Bristol Bill in Vermont. 
Thompson once showed him a $50 bill on 
the Tradesmen’s Bank, and told him that 
it was altered from a $1, and was part of a 
arge batch got up for Mississippi. Thomp- 
son had also shown him $10 bills on the 
Eagle Bank of Bristol, which he had al- 
tered from l’s. 

After a while, Miss Margaret O'Connor 
was called, and great curiosity was mani- 
fested on the part of the spectators to see 
the distinguished chnsort of Bristol Bill. 
She stepped boldly forward, and looked 
calmly at those before her. She was dress- 
ed in black, with a crimson velvet bonnet, 
black silk visite, kid gloves, and parasol. 
Her whole appearance was lady- like in the 
extreme, and she gave her testimony with 
peculiar firmness and nonchalance, as if 
quite at her ease. 

Margaret said she knew Mr. William 
H. Thompson ; she once lived in his house, 
in Division street, New Vork. The up- 
per part of the house, and a garret, were 
kept free from visitors ; but she. was once 
in there with Thompson, and she saw a 
small press standing on a table, also some 
bank bills pasted on glass. She further- 
more saw various liquids in bottles, of 


which Thompson told her the *jse. Ha 
said he had them for extracting the ink from 
bills, and showed her how he had done it 
on a $10 bill ; he showed her one that was 
not altered, as well as one that was. Mar- 
garet saw a small stove red hot there, and 
Thompson said he kept it for the purpose of 
consuming anything, in case the officers 
should come upon him. The witness stated 
that in February, 1849, she received a $10 
bill from Thompson, and with it bought a 
• plain gold ring. She knew the bill was an al- 
tered one, because she got it from Thomp- 
son as a recompense for making the signa- 
ture to some bills that were not signed. 
He told Margaret that she wrote a good 
hand, and she signed several bills on a 
bank in Pontaic, Michigan. The bill she 
received herself was signed by Thompson. 
Margaret proceeded to testify that Thomp- 
son had a man, named Meadows, employed 
to alter and counterfeit bank bills, at the 
bouse where she had boarded; she had 
heard conversations between Thompson and 
Meadows concerning the business. She 
admitted that she had been arrested in Bos- 
ton for passing counterfeit bills on the Ea- 
gle Bank of Bristol, and when asked by 
Thompson who sent them to her, she ab- 
ruptly replied — “You and Drury did.” 

Margaret O’Connor also stated that she 
signed a certain affidavit in Boston, in pres- 
ence of Marshal Tukey, in order that she 
might be sent for to New York by Warner 
and Thompson. When asked by Thomp- 
son if she knew Bristol Bill, she answered, 
“ Unfortunately I do.” But lie re- the 
young lady was “ playing ’possum,” for 
it was well understood that she was as de- 
voted as ever to Bill, and that he had en- 
couraged her to “blow” on Thompson 
and Drury. 

When the evidence for the prosecutiou 
was all in, Thompson rose to address the 
jury, and labored hard, in what we mus* 
confess was an able speech, to convince 
them that lie w as a very innocent and muca 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


5 ? 


persecuted individual. He said this was the 
first time he had ever been the orator in 
Court, but lie hoped the jury for that rea 
son would grant him every allowance. He 
then went on to criticise the evidence in a 
most masterly manner, and suddenly broke 
out with the following, which certainly was 
a point, -and made a “ good hit 

“The District Attorney (said Thompson) 
has distinctly charged that I was the head 
and front of a dangerous band of men who 
infested this country ; but what evidence 
has been brought to sustain this assertion 1 
There is Drury, the wealthy banker, the 
owner of $80,000 worth of property — the 
honest, ay, the very honest possessor of 
coining dies, and of costly jewelry which 
once he swore had been lost in the fire ! 
Here is honest Ashley, though convicted 
of perjury and forgery — and here, finally, 
is honest James Arlington Bennett, the 
planner of murder, and one of the most ex 
pert of forgers! All these great persons have 
lived in the greatest style — have had friends 
and supporters — yet I, poor as I am, unable 
even to get the common necessaries of life, 
without a friend, and in the greatest need, 
am charged with being the leader of these 
men !” 

Thompson then went back to an early 
period of his life, relating a variety of inci- 
dents, wffiich in some cases drew forth a 
smile, from court amhjury. He dwelt mi- 
nutely on some transactions which he had 
when employed by some of the New York 
police, and seemed disposed to blow bis own 
trumpet loud and long. He alluded to 
the great Proctor will forgery, by Joseph 
C. Ashley, and offered, to prove by the 
Chief of Police and '»thers, that the investi- 
gation of that matter had been offered to 
him, but refused Tom certain reasons. 
Still he (Thompson) had his curiosity ex- 
cited by the mysterious aspect of the case, 
and he made up his mind to fathom it pri- 
vately, to satisfy himself. For this reason 
he encouraged the advances of Ashley to- 


wards him, when they both rnet at the 
Tombs, and soon the particulars of the 
mystery were known to him. Having re- 
fused to follow the matter, he (Thompson) 
became suspected by the police ; his actions 
although they were beyond suspicion, were 
misinterpreted ; policemen, who went on 
the reward system, leagued themselves with 
the very thieves whom he had once exposed; 
and paid journalists raised a cry of “ stool 
pigeon,” which soon found believers. He 
became feared and hated ; he was hunted 
down and left by friends, and whilst the 
villains whom he had in his reach revelled 
in luxury, he (Thompson) struggled hard 
for a scanty maintenance, and lived on bread 
and w'ater. But even here it did not rest 
After having, by great exertions, invented 
and favorably introduced a medicine of su- 
perior quality, he was on the eve of selling 
his share in it for $2000, when some of hia 
enemies heard of his approaching prosperi- 
ty. The consequence was, that two days 
before the money was to be paid, he wa 3 
arrested on two charges of burglary, and 
although he was afterwards acquitted by 
the magistrate who investigated the matter, 
yet his enemies had blackened his prospects 
by officiously informing the person who was 
to buy the share in the medicine c-f his arrest. 
It was at that time that he applied to Mr. 
Havemeyer for a situation ; he (Thompson) 
told the Mayor he was afraid that circum- 
stances would draw him to become a thief, 
unless he got a situation of some kind. The 
application was favorably received, but 
was afterwards refused. 

Thompson continued. When in jail on 
the two charges of burglary, he made the 
acquaintance of Ashley. This individual 
introduced him to Bristol Bill, Sam Drury 
Smith Davis, and others, all notorious cha- 
racters. Subsequently he was told by 
officer Stokely that Drury was to be tried 
at Hempstead for arson, and Stokely thought 
tnat Thompson might be employed to serve 
the ends of justice, he believing that Drury 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


M 

was a guilty man , but on application to 
Mr. Taylor, the counsel for the prosecution 
he was refused, once more, in consequence 
of his reputation. 

Thompson then went on to state the re- 
lations existing between him and Drury ; 
how he was paid by the latter to procure 
two thieves to steal a trunk containg papers 
from the District Attorney’s office, in 
Hempstead, to destroy the evidence of 
Drury’s guilt in th arson case. He enter- 
ed upon the torpedo business ; he told all 
the well known particulars, and appealed 
to the confessions of young Sam in the 
“ mouse trap,” and old Sam in the “ rat 
trap,” to support him in his assertions. 
He then dwelt upon the evidence offered 
by the prosecution in the present case, and 
commented upon it at some length. Thomp- 
son spoke about an hour and a halt, and 
was listened to with great attention. 


CHAPTER XXI. 

Thompson’s trial continued — the lion 

AT BAY OATHS COUNTED NOTHING 

STOOL PIGEONISM SOMEWHERE BOSTON 

OFFICERS MIXED UP IN THE SCRAPE 

THOMPSON FINALLY ACQUITTED. 

Thompson next began to call witnesses 
for the defence, and attempted to show that 
he had himself made exertions to discover 
the passers of the bad money — that he had 
applied to the police to employ him in such 
business, &c. The substance of this sort 
of evidence only tended to show that he 
was either guilty as charged in the indict- 
ment, or a confirmed stool-pigeon. It was 
very unsatisfactory. 

He then commenced impeaching the 
testimony of Arlington Bennett, by intro- 
ducing a host of witnesses who swore that 
they would not believe him on oath — in 
truth, they gave the ex-Mormon General 
no very flattering character. There was 
rua little evidence to convince every one 


that perjury was the order of the day, and 
it seemed almost impossible to sift truth 
from falsehood, so skilfully were they mixed 
together in the mass of testimony. 

A. M. C. Smith, police officer, was 
sworn. He said that, according to his own 
information, Ashley had been a dealer in 
counterfeit mojiey for the last fifteen or 
sixteen years — that Ashley attempted to go 
bail for the notorious Smith Davis, his 
brother-in-law, (and King of the Koney- 
ackers.) Recently, Ashley wanted the 
witness to speak to Mr. McKeon, govern- 
ment attorney, about him (Ashley) turning 
state’s evidence against Drury, and getting 
the reward himself ; Ashley also gave 
Smith to understand that he furnished the 
matches for the torpedo. 

Officer Smith went on to state that he 
was in Boston in September, 1849. He 
went there at the request of Mr. Wilkes, 
to get an affidavit of Margarett O’Connor ; 
he met One-Eyed Thompson at the depot, 
and they went together to Marshal Tukey. 
Mr. Wilkes had employed Thompson to 
act against the Drury. Mr. Smith said he 
saw Margaret O’Connor in the presence ol 
her lawyer and a justice of the peace. 
Witness then added — “ At Boston, in the 
presence of Tukey, something was said 
about Meadows coming to New York ; 
Thompson, Tukey, Clapp and I were talk- 
ing, but I do not know, all that was said.” 
[What stool-pigeon arragement was being 
concocted here ?] 

To show' Thompson’s hand in the game, 
and exhibit his treachery to the other mem- 
bers of the gang, let us take a little of the ev- 
idence given by Mr Gillespie, a policeman, 
who stated that he w 7 as applied to by 
Thompson to w r atch a man named Mead- 
ows. He proceeded thus : — “ Immediate- 
ly after the explosion of the torpedo, 
Thompson applied to me to watch certain 
parties. It was to watch Meadows on Long 
I^rand, for the purpose of procuring the pa- 
pers stolen from the District Attorney’s of 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


See in New York. Bristol Bill was with | 
Meadows. I followed Bill through Brook- 
lyn to the Atlantic Ferry, which he cros- 
sed ; it was done at Thompson’s, request. 
Wilson, an engraver, was also with Bill 
and Meadows.” 

William W. Wilson was then sworn. 
He said he was an engraver, and resided 
in Boston. Meadows once worked for him, 
and in January, 1849, stole a large num- 
ber of dies and tools from his office, by 
breaking into it. Thompson had pretend- 
ed to give him information where he could 
find his dies. He had afterwards found 
them in Vermont, where Meadows and 
Bristol Bill were arrested. 

James Gahagen, a man of most forbid- 
ding appearance, who now lives in Boston, 
and was once implicated in some of the de- 
predations of Cupid and Parkinson, was 
called to the stand. . This witness was one 
of Drury’s paid minions, and testified to 
several things (rather crookedly) calculat- 
ed to fasten the charge of counterfeiting on 
Thompson. 

James M. Smith, Esq, was employed by 
Thompson to sum up the evidence, and 
make the final address to the jury in his be- 
half. The argument of Mr. S. was an 
ingenious production, and a portion of its 
conclusion we quote as follows : — 

“ We show you Samuel Drury, charg- 
ed with an attempt at murder — and Thomp- 
son is the witness against him; charged, 
moreover, with forgery, and Thompson is 
again*the witness. We then come to Bris- 
tol Bill and Meadows, both criminals of the 
deepest dye, who also were arrested upon 
Thompson’s information. Next we come 
to Bennett, charged with forgery; and Ash- 
ley, under five indictments for forgery — all 
brought to justice by Thompson. He was 
the only man who could and dared to ex- 
pose them. Look at the combination 
against him; look at the motive for hordes 
cf perjurers to come up here, and by their 
testimony try to deprive him of his liber- 


59 

ty, that the walls of the State Prison might 
close upon him, and thus seal his lips forev« 
er .” * * * * “ The temple of justice is not 
to be thus defiled ; we must have no pris- 
ons ransacked in search of evidence, and 
we must have no paramours cf burglars to 
back the testimony of a corrupted witness, 
to blast the reputation of an innocent man !” 

By such language as this, Thompson’s 
advocate undoubtedly threw much doubt on 
the whole evidence of the Drury gang, and 
it had ample effect upon the minds of the 
jury. He concluded by saying : — 

“The prosecution is to satisfy you that 
this bill (handing the indictment, with the 
counterfeit bill attached, to the jury,) was 
in the possession of Thompson, and that 
he altered it, or caused it to be altered. 
Unless this is clearly shown, you must ac- 
quit him, although it might appear that his 
pockets had been lined with counterfeit 
money ; it is this identical bill you have to 
determine upon, and by it the prisoner 
stands or falls.” 

The jury returned a verdict of not guil 
ty, and were undoubtedly justified in so 
doing, considering the peculiar circum- 
stances of the case. There could be little 
doubt that Thompson was all he was charg- 
ed with being, but the evidence in the case 
was very unsatisfactory. If guilty, he had 
shown a most treacherous disposition to- 
wards his confederates, and had evidently 
intended to raise himself up, as he crushed 
his villanous partners down. Thompsou 
appeared to possess none of that quality 
styled “ honor among thieves” — he look- 
ed only to self, perfectly indifferent to the 
world beside, and ready at all times to sac- 
rifice friends and foes as victims to his vain 
conceit and inordinate cupidity. 

That he is a man of genius cannot be de- 
nied — but his is a genius of a diabolica. 
nature. He is a man of whom it may be 
most truly said, “ He is fit for treasons, 
stratagems, and spoils.” Wily, cunning 
and hypocrital, when occasion demands— > 




LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


brave, and most desperate when danger 
threatens — he is a man to be feared. An 
evil spirit glances from each flash of his 
eye — a snare hangs on each word that falls 
from his seductive tongue — his heart is a 
mysterious, hidden thing, whose pulsations 
no mortal hand may feel. “Let no su6h 
man be trusted !” 

Like many others betrayed by the vile 
wretch, Bristol Bill and Meadows became 
the victims of Thempson’s stool-pigeon 
treachery, as will be seen hereafter. 


CHAPTER XXII 

BRISTOL BILL GOES TO VERMONT COUN- 

TERFEITING AND BURGLARIES CONTEMPLA- 
TED — BILL’S WHEREABOUTS BETRAYED 

n ARREST OF THE GANG. 

During the winter of 1840-50, Bristol 
Bill, finding the eastern cities rather too 
not to hold him, proposed to Meadows that 
they should seek a new field of operations. 
Margaret O’Connor was at liberty in New 
York, on bail, and not at all reluctant to 
lecamp. The trio therefore secretly start- 
ed across the country, and arrived at' Gro- 
ton, a small village in Caledonia county’ 
Vermont, and not far south of the Canada 
line. 

Bristol Bill carried with him a complete 
equipment of burglarious tools, and Mea- 
dows took all the apparatus for counterfeit- 
ing, including the dies stolen from Wilson 
in Boston. English Jim, the accomplished 
and notorious burglar, afterwards joined 
the party, and it was the intention of all to 
make the enterprise a profitable one. 

On arriving at Groton, Bill began to 
cast about him to see whom he could league 
jn with him, for the purpose of assistance, 
and of blinding the eyes of the community 
in regard to his real occupation. He sue- 
seeded in entrapping into his schemes three 
men of reputed respectability — McLean 


Marshall, a tavern keeper, Ephraim Low 
a store keeper, and one Peter M. Paul 
He excited the cupidity of these men by 
telling in glowing terms of the fortunes that 
could be made, and of the little risk of de- 
tection. According to his usual line ol 
policy, he made it an object to cause them 
to so commit themselves in the affair, tli? 
they could not easily “ back out,” or feel 
it their interest to betray him. 

Bill and Meadow’s took possession of a 
small house owned by Ephraim Low, in an 
obscure part of the town, and began to com- 
mence operations. Meadows set about pre- 
paring his paper and dies, while Bristol 
Bill and English Jim occasionally took a 
cruise into the surrounding country, for the 
purpose of surveying the locality and fast- 
ness of various Banks. 

But Thompson, in New York, was be- 
ginning to get seriously into trouble, and 
felt quite disposed to profit by any infor- 
mation which he could give, that would 
lead to .the discomfiture of any who had 
shown animosity towards him. Learning 
of the absence of Bill and Meadows, he 
sought to discover their destination. Suc- 
ceeding, he informed Wilson, the engraver 
where he would probably find his stolen 
dies, and so put him on the track, that 
Wilson finally reached the vicinity of the 
gang. Bristol Bill was at the Coosaek 
House, in Wells River, a few miles from 
Groton, one day, when, w'hen Wilson, who 
had happened there in his travels, saw and 
recognised him. Wilson knew that Mea- 
dows must be connected with him, and 
therefore put the authorities on Bill’s 
trail 

Bristol Bill had been passing current in 
the neighborhood as a quiet, respectable 
citizen, under the euphonious name of Wil- 
liam H. Warburton. Margaret O’Connor 
passed as his wife, but was remarked for 
her rich dresses and jewelry with which 
Bill’s vanity had decked her. Meadows 
kept quietly in the house, industriously at 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


61 


work. English Jim was off, most of the 
time, on an exploring expedition into the 
principal towns of the northern part of the 
State, and it was by his absence that he 
afterwards escaped arrest with his confede- 
rates. 

Early in March, 1850, officers had trac- 
ed and watched the principal members of 
the gang, and preparations were made for 
their arrest. The manner of Bristol Bill’s 
capture was described as follows : — : “The 
house occupied by Warburton was ow r ned 
by Low. There was but one house be- 
yond it on that road — it was an obscure 
place, where scarcely any person goes in 
tho winter season. Some one of our com- 
pany called at the door in a familiar way, 
(it being at night,) saying — ‘Jump up, Bill, 
I w ? ant to see you.’ Warburton immedi- 
ately came to the door, unfastened it, and 
we w r ent in. The door opened into a room 
where he had apparently been in bed v Mar- 
garet O’Connor w ? as lying in the bed. 
W arburton returned to the bed — he had 
on only his night-clothes. His trunks w r ere 
packed as if for a journey.” 

The persons arrested about this time, in 
various places, were Marshall, Paul, Low', 
Meadow's and his w'ife, and Warburton and 
Margaret O’Connor. The tw T o women, 
however, were set at liberty. Great was 
the excitement among the Vermonters, at 
the “mare’s nest” they had found. All 
the apparatus for counterfeiting had been 
captured, together with Bill’s kit of instru- 
ments, and every sin in the calendar w r as 
charged to the prisoners by the astonisfied 
natives. 

The particulars of the course and inten- 
tions of th£ gang w r ill be adduced from the 
evidence which w r as elicited on the occasion 
of the examination and trial of the prison- 
ers. This matter w r as interesting, and as 
Vermont is the last scene of Bill’s opera- 
tions thus far, we shall go into rather an 
extended review of the legal proceedings 
that foL owed his arrest. 


The Drurys, One-Eyed Thompson, Ash- 
ley, and Bennett, were in limbo in New 
York, and in Vermont was another section 
of the great confederacy of rascals in the 
hands of the law. This breaking-up ot 
bands of rogues has never been exceeded 
by anything in the criminal history of oui 
country 


CHAPTER XXIIi 

EXAMINATION OF BRISTOL BILL AND HIS 

GANG THEIR TRIAL — PAUL AND MAR- 

SHAL PROVE TRAITORS — THE “GAME UP.” 

The prisoners were brought before a 
Court of Inquiry, at Danville, the county 
town. The occasion drew together a large 
collection of people of all classes, and the 
court-room was. crowded to suffocation. 
Bristol Bill and Meadows w'ere kept in the 
closest custody, aud had chains on their 
feet. They appeared to pay close atten- 
tion to the procedings, while the behavior 
of all the prisoners was quite decorous and 
becoming. Mrs. Meadows, with a beauti- 
ful child about eight months old, was pres- 
ent, and sat by her husband’s side during 
the whole examination. The wife of 
Ephraim Low, and Margaret O’Connor, 
were also present, and both evinced the 
most anxious interest in the case. 

The prisoners were arraigned on several 
counts — first, for having in their possession 
implements for making counterfeit paper 
money; second, for aiding and abetting in 
making said money; third, for larceny, in 
stealing certain dies, valued at $1500, from 
William W. Wilson of Boston ; fourth, 
for having in their possession certain bur- 
glarious tools, w'ith the intent to break 
open stores, banks, &c All the prisoners 
were charged with some one of these 
crimes. To prove these allegations, a 
large number of witnesses were examined 
and among them Peter M. Paul, aprisonei 
who “ peached ” at the outset. They wei 


LI* i5 AND 

on to describe the arrest, and narrated the 
manner of finding the counterfeit apparatus. 
A one-dollar bill on the Vermont Bank, 
with a portion of it erased, was found in 
Low’s blank book or journal, on the day 
he was carried to jail. The dies were 
found under Low’s bee-houses. Two pres- 
ses and several dies had been discovered in 
one room of a building belonging to Paul; 
a transfer press had been there set up, and 
appearances indicated that it had been used 
but recently. 

Wilson, the engraver, was one of the prin- 
cipal witnesses, and testified that the dies 
were his — that they w r ere uudoubtedly 
stolen by Meadows about a year before — 
that Meadows' was a very skilful engraver, 
and had been employed by hina to engrave 
the dies, which were intended solely for 
bank notes — and that from the dies a se- 
lection could be made for a perfect bill, 
with the except ion of the signatures. "W il- 
*on said, that had not his dies been stolen, 
he had designed entering largely into the 
business of bank-note printing. He also 
described the use and design of the presses 
that had been captured — said they were 
such as all bank note printers used. 

Peter M. Paul was called and sworn, and 
told his story, in substance as follows. He 
said that the first knowledge he had of the 
affair, was about a year previous. He was 
in Low’s store, when Low took him aside, 
and said he would tell him something.” 
Paul stated that Low showed him two steel 
dies, and told him how they were obtained 
— that a man named M. had got them from 
the upper room of some building in Boston. 
The first that he (Paul) knew of the pres 7 
ses or machines, was in January, 1849, on 
the arrival of some goods for Low. He 
was told by Low that the machines were 
worth something, if he r:<jpld get a man to 
work them. One press was bought by Low 
in New York, and sent by steamboat to 
Boston, where it remained for some time. 
It finally arrived in G ro '.on with some of 


EXPLOITS 

Low’s merchandise — was unboxed, and 
carried into Low’s shed chamber. Pau 
said the next he knew of it, w'as in the fol- 
lowing Fall, when Low wanted the press 
put out of the way, where it would be safe. 
It was again boxed up, and Marshall and 
Paul assisted in putting it under Low’s 
woodshed, and threw some wood over it to 
conceal it In January, (1850,) Low was 
about failing in business, and wished the 
press to be again moved. Paul, theretore. 
with the aid of Low and’ Marshall, convey 
ed it to an upper room in Paol’s building, 
where the machine was set up under the 
direction of Meadows. Low wanted the 
press put in order, saying he wished to use 
it. Fourteen dies, for parts of bank-notes, 
were brought to the place by Low, and 
Meadows used them in the press to make 
impressions on copper plate. Some of the 
dies were of the figure “5,” and others 
vignettes, &c. This was about the 1 st of 
February. 

> f * ~ 4 

Towards the close of the month, Paul 
said he was shown a copper plate, with two 
small impressions — a figure on the corner, 
and one in the middle. On the first of 
March, (Paul stated,) Low called at his 
shop, and said Meadow's wanted to see him. 
He went in the evening, and saw' the same 
plate he had seen before, having the figure 
of a female on one side, and a drove of 
cattle in the middle. The denomination of 
the bill w r as on one corner — the engraving 
on the plate seemed faint, and to consist of 
but outlines. There was a second-hand 
press, a small one, at Low’s house, and he 
(Paul) had repaired.them both. This w r as 
just before the other strangers came to Gro- 
ton. Paul concluded by stating, that when 
he heard of the arrest (of Bristol Bill and 
Meadows,) Low came to his house, snd 
asked where the small press was. Paul 
told him that he had thrown it away The 
other press was the" taken apart, and the 
pieces thrown out ol doors. These piece* 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


63 


were after waids found, scattered over a 
large area. 

Here the counsel for the prosecution 
rested their case, so faT as the charge of 
counteifeiting, and aiding and abetting, was 
concerned. The next charge was for lar- 
ceny, in stealing of the dies ; and to prove 
this, Wilson testified as to how he had lost 
them, but could not tell who had stolen 
them ; they were found, however, secreted 
under Lovv’s beehives, a day or two after 
the arrest. 

The prisoners were then charged with 
having in their possession certain burglari- 
ous tools — this charge being principally di- 
rected against Warburton, or Bristol Bill. 

The Court decided that Low and Mea- 
dow’s should give bonds for their appearance 
at the June term of the Court, in the sum of 
$4000 each — Marshall in $3000 : — War- 
burton in $2000 — failing to obtain which 
they were remanded to prison! Paul gave 
bonds in the sum of $5000 for his appear- 
ance. 

But a short time elapsed, before Low was 
taken ill in prison, and died. 

Marshall was persuaded by the State’s 
Attorney to “peach” against his accom- 
plices — Bill and Meadows who were con. 
6idered the chiefs in the business — under a 
promise of protection from the State. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

TRIAL OP BRISTOL BILL AND MEADOWS FOR 
COUNTERFEITING — PAUL AND MARSHALL 
USED AS STATE EVIDENCE— PRISONERS 
CONVICTED. 

On the 12th of June*, 1850, William H. 
Warburton and Christian Meadows were 
brought to trial on the charge of counter- 
feiting bank bills. Bristol Bill appearod to 
have suffered little from his imprisonment, 
looked hale and hearty, and endured the 
gaze of the cro vded court-room, with per- 
fect coolness and apparent indifference. 


Meadows looked care-worn, while hii 
wife, true to that affection which but burns 
the brighter as the clouds of adversity thick- 
er, accompanied her husband, and sat by 
his side, holding in her arms a prattling in- 
fant, w'hose innocent face bore a strong con- 
trast -to the many stern and thoughtful vis- 
ages that surrounded it. The appearance 
of Mrs Meadows was amiable, modest and 
unassuming, indicating little acquaintance 
or affinity w r ith silch scenes. She seemed 
thoughtful and sad — but was said to pos- 
sess the utmost confidence in the integrity 
of her husband, and sincerely believed him 
innocent of all crimes. 

The prisoners w’ere arraigned. Bliss 
N. Davis, Esq, State’s Attorney, and Abel 
Underwood, Esq, appeared for the Govern- 
ment. William H. Farrar and Charles B. 
Fletcher, Esqrs, of Boston, appeared as 
counsel for the defence. This array of le- 
gal talent was assurance that it was an oc- 
casion of no ordinary importance. 

Peter M. Paul was brought forward as 
the first witness, and testified ^much the 
same as he did at the examination. He 
represented Low t as being the prime 
mover in the establishment of the Bogus 
Bank' at Groton, and that it was through 
his instrumentality that the dies were ob- 
tained, and the presses used for working 
the same. Paul, however, did not testify 
that any bank bills were actually completed. 

Wilson, the engraver, was also again puj 
on the witness stand, and gave his evidence 
concerning the dies. 

A man named Sargent Field was intro- 
duced to identify an altered bank bill, which 
was found by the witness in Low’s day- 
book, about the time of the arrest of the 
prisoners. It seems that Low was particu- 
lar to have his books brought to him in jail, 
which led to their examination. Mr. Page, 
a cashier, testified that the altered bill was 
originally a one-dollar bill on the Vermont 
Bank An engraved copper plate, found 
at Groton, was thought to be similar in its 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


44 

impression to a Brandon Bank bill, and a 
very correct representation. Three boxes 
containing dies were found under Low’s 
beehives. The boxes were marked ‘ axes,’ 
and were directed to Peter M. Paul. 
Twelve dies were found in a barrel of 
feathers, in Low’s house. 

McLean Marshall, the tavern keeper, was 
called to the stand and sworn. The sub- 
stance of his evidence was as follows. It 
appeared that Low had received a letter 
from New York, saying that men in that 
city would come to Groton to assist him 
in counterfeiting. About the last of De- 
cember, 1849, Warburton and Meadows 
came to Marshall’s house in Groton; and 
two days after, came a man whom they 
called “Jim,” ( English Jim.) These 
men made inquiries aboift Low, asking if 
lie had got home from Boston, and saying 
that he had agreed to be at Groton when 
they arrived. When Low returned from 
Boston, arrangements were made by which 
Warburton and Jim were to reside on 
Low’s fai^m, some distance from the vil- 
lage, to avoid suspicion, while Meadows 
was to remain near by, for convenience in 
their operations. Considerable talk was 
had among the whole party, concerning 
the manufacture of counterfeit money and 
the alteration of good bills. It was arrang- 
ed that Meadows was to do the engraving 
and printing; and when the bills were com- 
pleted, Warburton, Margaret O’Connor, 
and Jim were to pass and peddle them, 
with the assistance of Low. Various im- 
pressions of bank bills were made upon 
copper, in furtherance of their design, [some 
of which were produced in court, and-iden- 
tified by Marshall,] of the denomination of 
- $500, $100, $20', and $10. It was design- 
ed to alter the bills of the Vermont Bank — 
and $1000 were obtained at the Danville 
Bank, for the purpose of carrying-on their 
schemes, but Low’s sister in-law got hold 
of the money before it. reached Groton, and 
this circumstance somewhat interrupted 


their proceedings. Warburton said he did 
not wish to “ putter in small business,” but 
desired to make a great strike. All in the 
party w'ere to share in the spoils. It was 
understood by the confederates, that they 
were to appear in public as strangers to 
each other, and apparently ignorant of each 
other’s business. 

During the trial, every inch of ground 
was contested by the defence, while the 
government attorneys seemed determined 
that everything should he done to convict 
the prisoners. The court-house was densly 
crowded the whole time. 

Marshall was subjected to a long, rigid, 
ard searching cross-examination, with a 
view to destroy his credibility; for aside 
from his testimony, theve was little evidence 
directly implicating Bristol Bill in the 
crime of counterfeiting. It was natural 
to regard with suspicion the statement of 
an accomplish, who, to save himself, had 
betrayed his companions. His testimony 
was not, however materially shaken 

Testimony was introduced on Tie part oi 
respondents, showing that at ihe time of 
Warburton’s arrest, his trunks were found 
to be closely packed with clothing and 
wardrobe, as if he was about to remove — 
that something was then said by Warbur- 
ton about going away. 

The counsel for the prisoners pleaded 
their defence in a most persevering and. 
creditable manner, while their clients 
watched the proceedings throughout with 
the keenest scrutiny. Bristol Bill took 
copious notes of the testimony. 

When Marshall was introduced as a 
witness, Bill’s eyes flashed with suppress- 
ed indignation, while his lip curled with 
contempt of the cowardly betrayer. Mea- 
dow's’ demeanor lost something of its for- 
mer confidence, while tears started to the 
eyes of his wife, whose face wore a most 
sorrowful and heart-broken expression. 

A verdict of guilty was rendered by the 
jury, and all hope wa.s at an end 


Of BRISTOL BILL. 


CHAPTER XXV. 

&WCOKD TRIAL OF BRISTOL BILL — ATTEMPTS 

AT BURGLARY BANKS IN DANGER — 

“ PEACHING ” BY THE WHOLESALE — 
ASTONISHING DEVELOPMENTS. 

William H. Waiburton, alias William 
Darlington, alias Bristol Bill, was next 
put to trial alone, charged with “ having 
in his possession certain burglarious tools, 
intended and designed for feloniously and 
burglariously breaking open banks and 
bank vaults,” &c. The third and fourth 
counts in the indictment charged him with 
intent to break open the Bank of Newbury, 
the Bank of Caledonia, the Bank of Mont- 
pelier, the Bank of Irasburgh, and the 
Bank of Danville — the last count charging 
the offence on Bristol Bill and “ a certain 
person unknown.” 

The prisoner, answering to the name of 
Warburton; pleaded not guilty. 

Col. J. Kent was the first person sworn, 
and stated that he assisted in the arrest of 
Bill. He was put on the track by Wilson, 
and the arrest was made in consequence of 
some dies having been stolen from Wilson. 
Kent said that his party commenced a search 
of the premises as soon as daylight would 
permit. In the cellar wall they found a 
piece of cast steel saw-plate, (meaning a 
piece of mill'saw. from 12 to 18 inches long, 
*jpon •which some experiments had been 
made w r ith a burglarious implement^ 
The plate was tucked back in the wall, as 
if for concealment In the chamber of the 
house, were found several bars of iron 
about four inches wide ; also, two short 
stubbed scythes, about two feet long, the 
butts of which were w >und and wrapped 
with brown paper, as if to form a handle. 

Robert Darling was one of the party of 
hi rest, and said they were directed to ex- 
amine the dung heap. They accordingly 
commenced to dig through, and after about 
half an hour's search they struck on a steel 
bar, octagonal in shape, sharpened down 


fib 

like a wedge at one end, and a little book- 
ed or turned at the other. They also found 
a crank, belonging to a boring machine. 
The balance of the machine was dug out of 
the snow at the rear of the house. These 
articles w f ere nailed up in a box. [The 
box and tools were exhibited in court.] 
Alden Heath testified that he drove the 
mail team between Groton and Wells Ri 
ver. One day. at the express office he 
found a box wrapped up in thick brown 
paper, directed to McLean Marshall, Gro- 
ton. The box weighed 40 or 50 pounds. 
Witness carried it to Marshall, and he paid 
the treight. Heath then proceeded to say 
that there was a stranger about Groton 
during the winter, in company with War- 
burton,, and he had heard some one call 
him George Green. On Sunday, Jan 6th. 
he saw Warburton, Meadows, and the 
stranger in the sitting-room of Marshall’s 
tavern ; Marshall and Low were also pre- 
sent ; the room was darkened, and the 
curtains drawn. Pie afterwards saw Green 
on the road to Wells River*, with a valise 
in his hand. 

Daniel Coffran was sworn. He said he 
knew Warburton at Groton the past winter 
pre (witness) was the officer who made the 
levy upon Low’s property at the time of 
his failure. The property was put into 
Marshall’s hands for safe keeping. One 
evening, Coffran saw a horse which he had 
attached, in harness, standing in Marshall’s 
shed; Low and Warburton were there in 
private conversation Warburton shortly 
[ unhitched the horse, and drove to the stable 
where he put one or two articles into the 
sleigh — one of them looked like a box ; he 
then drove off towards West Groton. 

Mr. O. C. Hale, cashier of the Bank of 
Newbury, was next examined The ma- 
chine taken from Bill was shown to the 
witness, who described its operations as 
follows : — “ By putting in an iron, which 
so shaped as to enter a key-hole, and then 
turning the head crosswise, a person pro- 


88 


TVE AND EXPLOITS 


vented from diawing it back To this, by 
means of a screw, the boring machine is 
tastened and hugged tight to the iron door, 
when the cutting process is commenced by 
putting on the long Qr short crank, as occa- 
sion may require. There appear to be here 
three different bits of the same size ; and 
with them all in good repair, to replace 
dull ones, the machine is capable of boring 
through the iron door of any vault in any 
Bank that I know of.” Such, reader was 
the cashier’s imperfect description of one 
of the most costly end*ingenius instruments 
ever used by an accomplished burglar. 

Mr. Hale then proceeded as follows. He 
said that on a certain Monday morning, the 
past winter, he found that one of the shut- 
ters of the Bank of Newbury opened harder 
than usual — he could hardly get it open, 
and on examination discovered that some 
kind of an instrument, like a sharp iron 
bar, 4iad been introduced between the two 
parts of the shutters, upon the edge ot 
which indentations were found. It, was 
evident that some person Lad tried to force 
off the hinges. The bricks at the side of 
the window had been broken and crumbled 
apparently by prying over them. Mr. Hale 
said he had applied the bar (taken from 
Warburton) to the indentations on the 
shutters, and it fitted them precisely. 
There was snow on the ground, and some 
slight tracks were discovered. 

Jonathan Peck, a blacksmith, said that he 
saw Warburton and a stranger pass thro’ 
Groton village one Sunday afternoon. 
They had Marshall’s team, and when near 
the village, the stranger got out and went 
on foot, apparently as if they did not know 
each other. 

Marvin Whitcher described the stranger 
that had been seen with Warburton, and 
who went by the name of Green. He 
saw this man go off in the stage, a few days 
before Warburton’s arrest. [The reader 
will of course surmise that this stranger 
«vas none other than Eng.ish Jim.] 


Horace Pierce, the keeper of theCoos&ci 
House at Wells River, was next sworn. 
He said he saw Warburton at his house 
several times durin*; the winter. At one 
time he s.aid several days, until a woman 
came whom he called his wife. There 
was another person occasionaliy with him 
and they left in company. Warburton was 
at Pierce’s house on the 5th of March, and 
was w-aiting for something which he expect- 
ed to come by the cars. ’ Wilson was at 
Pierce’s hotel, and informed the landlord 
that Warburton was Bristol Bill. 

McLean Marshall, the principal witness 
for the government, as on the trial for coun- 
terfeiting, again took the stand, and made 
a long statement concerning his knowledge 
of the prisoner. He commenced by say- 
ing that about the 1st of January, 1850, 
Warburton and Meadows came to his inn 
in Groton. They came on Wednesday; 
and the next Saturday after, came a man 
whom they called Jim. It was agreed that 
Warburton and Jim should go out to Low’s 
farm at West Groton, and Marshall carried 
them out, together with their furniture. 
About the first of February, a box was 
brought from Wells River, directed to 
Marshall, for which he paid the freight. 
He had been apprised by Low that such a 
box would come for Warburton, and he 
was on the look out for it. Marshall, at 
this part of his testimony, proceeded as 
follows ; — 

“ I carried the box up into my barn cham- 
ber, and laid it in the hay. I tore off my 
name the first thing after I got hold of it. 
Warburton came to my inn the next night, 
and enquired for the box. I told him that 
it had come, and where it was, and request- 
ed him to see it. We went up staiis, and 
he showed me a machine or instrument, 
with which, he said, he could cut through 
any iron door, or walk into any Bank in 
Vermout,- and told how quick he could do 
it. He put it partly together, put in a 
, crank, and showed me the operation of it, 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


67 


He then put it into a sleigh which stood 
close by the barn door.” 

Marshall then proceeded to testify, that 
shortly afterwards he went to Warburton’s 
house in Groton, and w r as there further ex- 
plained the process of boring through 
vaults. Bill showed him a piece of cast 
steel mill sav', and told what he had done 
with it. The e was a cut upon4he saw 
plate, and Jim said it was much worse than 
a Bank vault door, as it was difficult to hold 
it, and a bad thing to fasten the machine 
into. Bill and Jim said they could bore 
through a Bank door as quick again as they 
could through that piece of saw plate. 
Marshall proceeded to testify that the plan 
of operations and things to be . done were 
talked of in his presence. It was first ar- 
ranged to go to St. Johnsbury, while the 
Commissioners were receiving deposits on 
Bank shares, and see if the money could 
not be got. Warburton and his wife 
(Margaret O'Connor) went in a horse and 
6leigh, and Jim went in the stage. When 
they returned, Bill and Jim both said they 
could not make out anything, as two were 
kept in the building us a guard. They re- 
lated how, at a tavern, they had gone into 
the room of a man whom they supposed to 
have considerable money, without waking 
him, and taken his carpet bag, which they 
carried to the stable, where they struck a 
a light with a match, and examined the 
contents of the bag, but found no money ; 
they had then returned to the man’s room, 
and replaced the bag, without disturbing 
the owner. Bristol Bill and Jim returned 
to Groton together, leaving Margaret at St. 
Fohnsbury. Warburton and Low talked 
over the matter of Bank robbery. War- 
burton (as Marshall testified) said he knew 
of a Bank which he had examined, and 
thought he could enter — the Bank at Stan- 
stead. Low advised him to try the Bank 
atlrasburgh — for it was apart from any 
•thei building, and there was a good chance. 
Warburton an 1 Jim then took Marshall’s 

5 


team, and went to St. Johnsbury ; from 
thence Bill took Margaret carried her t»> 
Irasburgh, and left her there. She was tv 
watch the Bank, and see if any one slept in 
it; if not, that Bank was to be attempted. 
Bill and Jim then went to Stanstead, and 
watched the bank building at that place, 
they even made arrangements to enter the 
Bank, but, when the appointed hour came, 
they were prevented by the appeatflnce of a 
person who came along and unlocked the 
door, entered the building, and went to bed. 
The burglars gave that up, and returned to 
Groton. Marshall said he bad a talk with 
them, that night, about their luck. In a 
day or two after, Warburton came to him, 
and wanted some money. Marshall fur- 
nished Bill with a little to go after Marga- 
ret ; they returned that week. A con- 
sultation was then held concerning, future 
operations. It was arranged to visit the 
Chelsea Bank and the Bank of Montpelier. 
Warburton and Jim finally concluded to go 
to Chelsea first. They watched one night, 
but found that some person slept in the 
Bank. They then went to Montpelier — 
but discovered that somebody slept in one 
Bank, and there was a shoemaker’s shop 
close to the other, in which some one also 
slept. They then returned to Groton, and 
the whole party had another talk. The 
Wells River and Danville Banks were 
both spoken of. Bristol Bill said he had 
been inside of the Wells River Bank — that 
the vault doors were heavy, but he thought 
he could go through them. He said there 
was no trouble in getting into the Danville 
Bank, only that some one slept overhead. 
Low afterwards told Marshall that tney' 
(Warburton and Jim) had made an attempt 
on the Wells River Bank, but got fright-, 
ened away. This, as Mashall thought, was 
about the middle of February. The Derry 
Bank was also talked about — Bill said he 
could get into it, but that the money was 
not current, or something to that effect. 
Low said it would do well enough, and 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


urged an attempt. Bill would not agree to 
go there, but said that something would be 
dene yet. 

Marshall, in his testimony, stated that he 
understood blacksmithing, and had forged 
about a dozen keys for Warburton, who 
said he wanted them to open bureaux, 
trunks, and doors of houses. Just before 
the arrest of the parties, Bill told Marshall 
that Jim had carried the keys off with him. 
A bar of steel, taken from Bristol Bill, was 
exhibited to Marshall in court, and he said : 
— “ I made this steel bar, or sharpened B 
from one which Warburton gave me. 
Low gave me a pattern to fix it by, and 
said Warburton wished it fixed by the 
pattern.” 

On the cross-examination of Marshall, 
he stated that if money had been obtained, 
it was to be put into Low’s hands, for fear 
of the burglars being followed and search- 
ed. He was sure that Warburton and Jim 
had the boring machine with them when 
they went to Irasburgh and Stanstead. 

Calvin Morrill, Esq., was frext sworn as 
a witness. He was one of the Commission- 
ers to receive subscriptions for shares in 
Passumpsic Bank. The commissioners 
commenced their duties on the 22nd of 
J&uuary, and were engaged some ten or 
twelve days. There was a great number 
of people at their room every day, and 
the witness recollected seeing Warburton 
there. Morrill said he noticed the stranger 
because he spoke to him, and said in an 
enquiring manner — “ You Jfre having a new 
Bank here I” Witness therefore supposed 
that the stranger had been ignorant of the 
fact, and was not there to subscribe for 
stock. From the position in which War- 
burton sat, the door being open, he could 
see deposits made in the safe in an adjoin- 
ing room. Witness thought that he sat 
Uiere for some half an hour. 

A. great deal more evidence, of a various 
ssatnrc, was introduceu by the government, 
feat very little for the defence 


Messrs. Farrar and Fletcher, counsel 
for the prisoner, exerted themselves most 
ably in his behalf, and, considering the 
lack of foundation on which to build, they 
acquitted themselves with much credit. 

After an able charge from the Judge, tfe® 
jury retired — and soon returned with a ver* 
diet of not guilty. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

THE BURGLARS — BRISTOL BILL’S ATTEMPT 

TO ESCAPE FROM JAIL HIS SKILL AND 

INGENUITY. 

We for the present leave Bristol Bill and 
Meadows in jail, awaiting sentence, and 
take a retrospective view of a few incidents 
concerning the gang. 

It is true that Bristol Bill and English 
Jim staid some days in St. Johnsbury, with 
the hope of entering the iron safe which 
contained the deposits of the stock-holdcra 
of a new Bank ; but a man was employed 
to stay in the room by night, and it was 
too narrowly watched by day, for the bur- 
glars to make the experiment. 

The following incident we liave.on good 
authority. English Jim, who is a strong- 
ly made and vigorous man, went in compa- 
ny with Low to Montpelier, with the pur- 
pose of robbing the Vermont Bank. They 
designed to do it in a most daring and open 
manner, viz: — by knocking down the 
cashier, securing the money, and locking 
the cashier into the vault. Jim and Low 
actually went to ‘the Bank, intending to 
carry out their bold plan. As they entered 
however, Mr. Page, the cashier, must have 
noticed something singular in the manner 
of his visitors, and suspected theii object. 
He shrunk not from their presence, bui 
stepped affably towards them, with a 
smile upon his countenance, and opoke 
kindly to them. His conduct so took the 
hardened men by surprise, that they were 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


powerless. They confessed the object of 
their visit, and their meditated injury to 
the cashier. Mr. Page talked to each of 
them 44 like a father to his child,” and the 
robbers went away quite subdued in spirit. 
They afterwards gave as their reason for 
not accomplishing the robbery, that “ Mr. 
Page treated them so ‘politely, their hearts 
failed them. /” 

While Bristol Bill and Margaret O’Con- 
nor were on a eruise through the State, 
surveying the locality of different Banks, 
they were never in a single instance sus- 
pected of their design. At St. Johnsbury, 
they remained for a considerable time at 
the principal hotel. Bill passed for a tra- 
velling gentleman of leisure, while Marga- 
ret was considered his spous®. The accom- 
plishments of the lady attracted no little 
attention and good will, and it was her 
wont, on each evening, to seat herself at 
the piano in the parlor of the hotel, and 
charm the company present with her skil- 
ful playing and me odious voice. 

It was a fortunate occurrence for English 
Jim. that he departed from the scene of 
operations a few days before the arrest of 
his confederates ; otherwise, he would have 
participated in their fate, and now be an 
inmate of the prison at Windsor. 

The most extraordinary performances of 
Bristol Bill was his attempt to escape from 
the jail at Danville, while awaiting trial. 
The prisoners during the day were kept in 
light and airy cells, but at night were pla- 
ced separately in what might be called 
dungeons, and were heavily -ironed. Dur- 
ing the day, Meadows and Bill were in one 
cell. 

It so happened that the clerk of the coun- 
ty wanted a large seal engraved, and Mea- 
dows was permitted to execute the work. 
For this purpose, a few of his tools were 
allowed him until he could finish the jcb. 
In accordance w:th Meadows’ previous re 
quest, the jailer one day brought him ar, 
engraver's square, which he needed in hia 


m 

work. This was formed of a thin piece of 
steel about six inches long, with a smaller 
piece turning on its surface by a pivot. 
The moment that the jailer had gone, Bill 
who had quickly noticed the article as Mea- 
dows received it through a hole in the dqor 
seized the square, and commenced separat- 
ing its parts. Meadows was surprised and 
wroth, and attempted to interfere ; but Bill 
was sullen and determined, and threw' his 
comrade from him. “ A man must be a 
d — d fool, when they bring us tools, not to 
use them !” said the burglar, and he set 
himself to work industriously. He separa* 
rated the t>vo pieces of steel, and, taking 
the larger one, began to rub one end of it 
upon the stove, and also on the stone floor. 
After some hours labor, he succeeded in 
getting it quite sharp, and almost as good 
as a chisel. Of the smaller piece of steel, 
he then made a saw. His next step was to 
mount on a table, and remove the stove 
pipe, from which he cut out several narrow 
strips of iron. The pipe was then replaced 
in such a manner that the cuts would escape 
observation. Untiring in his labor, he 
took two of these strips, polished them so 
as to resemble steel, and then made a coun- 
terfeit square, almost equal in appearance 
to that which Meadows had received from 
jailer. Here was a great feat already 
accomplished, and would have been worthy 
any mechanic who possessed all the requi 
site tools. When the jailer called for the 
square, the false one made from the stove 
pipe was given him, and he went aw'ay 
without suspicion. 

Bill, the next day, cut off a larger piece 
of the funnell, and hid the defect by setting 
the stove further back. He cut the iron 
into strips as before, and by some means 
rivetted them together to about the thick- 
ness of a large key. It is probable that he 
had some inferior tools to work with, othef 
than those he made )f the piece of steel ; 
and we suppose it possible that he wat 
aided in his task by a hot fire. While en 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


TO 

gaged on this branch of his undertaking, he 
had saved a portion of the brown bread 
given him as food, and also some meat 
gravy. To these ingredients he added 
some powdered charcoal, and kept the 
whole in his hat until a sufficient quantity 
had been obtained. That done, he kneaded 
them into a solid loaf, and baked it. Sha- 
ving off the top, he carefully made a mould 
as near as he could guess to the size of the 
key he intended to make — viz : a key to the 
cell in which he was confined at night. 
The next of Bill's proceedings w as to pick 
out little bits of lead Irom around the ends 
of the window gratings, and he. finally ob- 
tained enough of the metal for his purpose. 
With a piece of the stove funnel he made a 
cup, and in it melted his lead. Running 
the liquid metal into his brown-bread mould 
he found himself possessed of an uncouth 
blank key. Bill, by this time, had derived 
some assistance from Meadows, who was 
nothing loth to give his aid when he could 
see a hope of escape. Notwithstanding the 
prisoners were often strictly searched, they 
managed their affairs so shrewdly that 
the nothing was detected. 

One night, when Bill retired to his low- 
er cell, in company with the turnkey, he 
took with him his leaden cast, and also 
some of his gravy preparation. Irons were 
put upon him as usual, and the officer lef t 
his candle near the door, w hile he proceed- 
ed to examine Bill’s bedding, &c. .. As his 
back was turned, Bill suddenly whipped 
the candle from its socket, bit a piece from 
the bottom, and secreted it in his mouth. 
When the jailer had gone, Bill proceeded 
to take off his irons, as he had done every 
night for some time — putting them on in 
morning. 

Among other things, Bill had obtained 
■possession of two bits of looking-glass ; but 
the precise manner in which he used them, 
has passed from our memory. They were 
however, so placed that he obtained, by the 
aid of his bit of candle, a reflection of the 


key-hole from the outside. In the door waa 
a small diamond hole, and by putting his 
arm through to the shoulder, Bill found 
that he could just reach the lock. On hia 
blank key he then spread a thick coating of 
cold meat gravy, and after some exertion 
managed to get it into the key hole, and 
obtained a very fair impression of the lock. 

The next day, Bill whittled out the w^ards 
of his leaden key according to the impress- 
ions made in the substance that covered it. 
Another night was necessary to complete 
the model, and Bill finally Ayas satisfied that 
if his key w 7 as of harder metal than lead he 
could open the door of his cell. By day, 
therefore, Bill labored incessantly to make 
a key of iron, after his leaden pattern, from 
the strips of stove pipe which he had rivets 
ed together. By dint of heating his iron in 
the fire, and cutting . and hammering with 
his imperfect tools, the ingenious man waa 
ere long possessed of an instrument, which, 
though little resembling a key in appear- 
ance, would unlock the door of one of the 
strongest cells in the jail. 

Bill waited impatiently for the night, 
and when it came he inserted his key in the 
lock, actually opened the door, and stood 
undetected in the main entry of the prison. 
Here w r as most of his undertaking accom- 
plished, and he felt that his early skill and 
trade had not been lost upon him. Pro- 
ceeding to the door of Meadow s, he found 
that his key fitted that also. Bill’s com- 
panion was no little pleased to have his 
irons removed, and to be shown how to re- 
place them in the morning. The twain 
consulted as to their next move, and it 
was agreed that McLean Marshall should 
accompany them when they escaped ; b- 
it was considered advisable not to make him 
acquainted with their project until they 
were quite ready to depart. It was founa 
that a different key must be made for 
Marshall’s door, and Bill silently took an 
impression of the lock. He then retired to 
; his cell, and so arranged things as to avoid 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


n 


discovery For some days he busied him- 
lelf in making a key to Marshall’s door. 
During the intervening nights, Bill would 
leave his cell, and employ himself with his 
saw, upon the gratings of a small window 
in the entry, which he at last so loosened 
that an exit could at any time be quickly 
made. The key was finished and all things 
were ready for an escape. Bill had work- 
ed like a dog for about a month, in perfect- 
ing his arrangements, and he now felt ela- 
ted at his success thus far, and the bright 
hope of obtaining his freedom. The thought 
of outwitting the officers of the law, for 
whom Bill professed the most supreme con- 
tempt, was sufficient recompense for him to 
undertake almost anything, however ardu- 
ous it might be, or whatever the conse- 
quences of detection. 

Towards the close of a certain day, 
Marshall was given a hint from his com- 
rades, that an escape was intended that 
night, and that he would be called for. 
Bill and Meadows had no idea but that 
Marshall would welcome the news, and 
joyfully co-operate with them in their 
plans. 

The night was dark, and most favorable 
for the undertaking. All was silent as the 
grave, save the cgld gusts of wind that 
wailed fitfully without, or whistled shrilly 
through the gloomy passages of the jail. 
As he had done for many a night before', 
Bill slipped the iron gyves from his wrists 
and ancles, and prepared to depart. Softly 
unlocking the door of his cell, he stepped 
into the damp corridor, and listened. No 
Bound came, that betokened watch or detec. 
tion. The dear of Meadows’ cell was un- 
locked, the counterfeiter’s irons unloosed, 
and the two criminals stoed untrammelled 
and ready for any emergency. As they 
advanced towards Marshall’s cell, their 
hearts beating exultingly with high hopes of 
success, it may have been fortunate for the 
jailer or those who kept watch, that the 
prisoners managed their movements so 


privately. Bristol Bill and Christian Mea- 
dows would have proved dangerous men to 
meet in such an emergency, and despera- 
tion would have caused most bloody disaster 
to those who afforded opposition to their 
escape. 

Softly creeping along the corridor of the 
jail, they reached Marshall’s cell, unlocked 
the door and entered. Instead of meeting 
Marshall exulting in the hope of escape, 
and ready for the adventure, they found 
him on the bed, writhing and groaningun- 
der the effects of a severe attack of colic, 
which afterwards proved all a pretence.. 
He -said he could not go with them that, 
night, and begged them to postpone their' 
escape. Moved with sympathy for the 
wretch, Bill concluded not to depart until 
they could all go together, and he and Mea- 
dows returned to their cells. We might 
almost say that the jail was wide open for 
them — so perfect were all their plans of 
exit. Had Bill escaped that night, we 
doubt if he would have been again captured 
But his generosity — for Bill possesses no 
little of that quality — made him a sacrifice 
to the mean treachery of Marshall. 

The next day, Bliss N. Davis, Esq., the 
State’s Attorney, was sent for to visit the 
prison. He came, and had a long private 
conversation with McLean Marshall, a por- 
tion of which Bristol Bill overheard from 
his cell. The substance of the parley was, 
that Marshall informed the attorney of the 
prisoners’ intent to escape, and their means 
for so doing — that they had false keyr . &c. ; 
he also agreed to become a State’s evi- 
dence upon the ensuing trial, and testify to 
every particular concerning the recent 
schemes for counterfeiting and burglary 
provided a nol pros could be entered on the 
charges against himself. The bargain was 
made, and the next day came an order for 
Marshall’s release from prison. At the 
trials, in June, he swmre to a long array ol 
facts, as the reader will have observed is 
our account of the legal proceedings. 


f 


78 LIFE AND 

Searcn was accordingly made of the per- 
sons and ce.'ls of Bitetol Bill and Meadows, 
for the implements intended to work their 
escape. But not a single article could bn 
found. The keys were probably thrown 
down the privy vault. Bill’s indignation 
knew’ no bounds and he swore vengeance 
on the paltroon who had betrayed him. 


CHAPTER XXVII. 

A SPEECH BY WARBURTON WARBURTON 

AND MEADOWS SENTENCED TERRIBLE 

SCENE IN THE COURT-ROOM BRISTOL 

BILL’S ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE 
STATE’S ATTORNEY. 

On Friday morning, June 21st. 1850, 
the convicted prisoners were brought into 
court, to receive the sentence of the judge. 
The day previous, arguments had been 
nade by counsel for arrest of judgment and 
*he granting of a new trial. The judge 
proceeded to overrule both motions, and 
dismissed them in a summary manner. — 
The Court then asked if anything could be 
said in mitigation of sentence. 

Bristol Bill’s counsel rose, and began to 
plead in his behalf. He referred to the age 
of Bill — should he outlive the usual sen- 
tence, he would leave the prison an old 
pnan, and be cast out upon the world desti- 
tute ofiall resources, and with no means of 
gaining an honest livelihood. 

At this jucture, Bill, who sat restlessly 
in his chair, cried out 'in a loud manner — 
“Don’t beg any mercy for me, at the 
hands of this Court !” This remark some- 
what took the counsel aback, and he replied 
that he wculd ask no mercy for a man who 
did hot desire it. He then commenced a 
plea for Meadows, who sat w’eeping bit- 
terly. 

The judge finally called upon Warbur- 
ton, and asked if he had anything to say 
why sentence should not now be passed on 


EXPLOITS 

him. Bill rose in a perfectly cool and d* 
liberate manner, and made quite a length v 
speech, which was tinctured with no little 
shrewd argument and cutting satire. He 
commenced by saying that he was sorry hi 
counsel had desired mercy in his beha , f . 
he (Bill) had lived thus long in the world, 
without asking favors of anyone, especially 
of courts. All he had desired in the pre- 
sent case was to have a fair trial, and to 
see justice properly administered. But he 
had received precious little justice since he 
had been in the State of Vermont. He 
complained of the mode of trial, and of the 
haste in bringing the case before the pre- 
sent term of the court, w’hen he had desired 
a postponement, that he might procure wit- 
nesses in his behalf from other States. He 
conceived that sufficient reasons had been 
offered in the form of affidavits, for a con- 
tinuance of the case, Bill then went on to 
complain that the court had been influenced 
by fear, and charged that popular excite 
ment had driven the case to trial and man- 
aged the conviction. He then denounced, 
in bitter terms, the course which had been 
taken by the State’s Attorney ; that officer 
had repeatedly come to the jail, and finally, 
by dint of hiring, had brought the perjureo 
Marshall from his cell to the witness-stand. 
He furthermore complained of being brought 
to trial on the charge ot counterfeiting, 
when he had been discharged on that com- 
plaint at a previous examination — the gov- 
ernment, at the same time, releasing the 
man who was bound over at the examina- 
tion, and putting him on the witness stand 
Bill declared, most emphatically, that his 
trial should not have come on while public 
opinion was so violent and vindictive. — 
Popular excitement, he said, had affected 
the judge on the bench and the jury in their 
box. Marshall’s s.atements were false, 
and Bill denied that he had ever seen the 
counterfeiting presses, plates, &c., or that 
he was present at any of the consultation! 
alluded to. He had come to Vermont o» 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


' 73 


very different business ; and at the time of 
hia arrest, his trunks were packed, and he 
was preparing- to leave town the next morn- 
ing. The prisoner then spoke of the mo- 
tions for arrest of judgment and anew trial, 
and argued them in a manner which would 
have done credit to many of the le^al pro- 
fession. Among other points, he contended 
that the bill plate had not been sufficiently 
identified. Speaking of punishment le 
told the Court that he had as lief have a 
sentence for fifteen years as for one. 

Bill’s speech caused some remarks from 
the Court, when the prisoner again replied. 
He inveighed severely against McLean 
Marshall, and charged him with being a 
perjured man ; he also declared that Mar- 
shall had been well drilled by the govern- 
ment prosecutor. Shaking his finger at. 
Mr. Davis, Bill added with peculiar em-. 
phasis — “ And your pupil, Mr. State’s 
Attorney, made an appearance on the wit- 
ness stand creditable to the instructions of 
his master.” 

Warburton was then sentenced to ten 
years confinement at hard labor in the State 
Prison. 

Meadows was next called up, and the 
unhappy man, in direct contrast to the 
manner of his confederate, pleaded most 
affectingly for mercy ; while the sobs of his 
wretched wife joined in the vain petition. 
But justice was inexorable, and Meadows 
received the same sentence as Bristol Bill. 
Despair fell upon the heart of the counter- 
feiter ; he heard his doom, and sank back 
in his seat, completely prostrated in spirit. 

Bill, however, maintained his usual out- 
ward composure ; but to one who knew 
him, there might have been seen a “ lurk- 
ing devil in his eye,” that silently intimated 
a tempest in his heart He had boldly 
complained of injustice — he felt that he had 
been wronged — and now he was a doomed 
convict for the ten best years of his remain 
Ing life No greater punishment could 
scarcely be inflicted upon him, and it mat- 


ered little what his future acts might be 
Even as he! had expressed himself, sc he 
felt a bitter hatred towards Bliss .N Davis, 
the prosecuting attorney, who, as Bill 
charged, had procured his conviction by 
unfair and unjustifiable means. Bristol 
Bill, although a man apparently always 
self-possessed, is inwardly swayed by the 
most violent passions. To a friend he is a 
man of honor — to an enemy he is a quick 
and dangerous foe. An injury is never 
forgotten, and is sure at some time to bfing 
down retribution on the head of the offen- 
der. A kindness, and good service, are 
treasured in Bill’s heart, and he would 
never lose an opportunity of proving his 
gratitude. Such is, or was, Bristol Bilk 
But the author is inclined to believe that 
the severe trials to which the celebrated 
burglar has been subjected for the last few 
months, have somewhat changed the com- 
plexion of his natural characteristics. It 
seems as though his once natural shrewd- 
ness and cool determination had forsaken 
him, and recklessness and desperation 
usurped their place. But the scene we are 
about to describe will exhibit to the reader 
something of Bill’s state of mind when the 
judgment of ttie court had been parsed up- 
on him. 

There was no prisoner’s box in the 
court-room, and Warburton stood just out- 
side the bar. He wore no handcuffs, but 
on his legs were heavy fetters which bare- 
ly allowed him to shuffle along. As the 
judge concluded his sentence of Meadow’s, 
Mr. Davis, the State’s Attorney, arose 
from his seat, w’ent around the bar, and 
stooped down to whisper in Meadows’ ear. 
Bristol Bill, with his hands behind him, 
and his intention suspected by no one, ad- 
vanced slowly towards the government of- 
ficer. Suddenly his hand rose, and then a 
hitherto concealed weapon descended upoa 
the neck of his victim. One terrific shriek, 
and the words “ He’s killed me — I am t 
dead man !” — and Bliss N. Davis fell back 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


T4 

covered with his own blood. The weapon 
remained sticking in his neck, and the un- 
fortunate man made an ineffectual effort to 
draw it out. It was withdrawn by a friend, 
and proved to be the blade of case-knife* 
with a handkerchief wound tightly round 
the end of it, as a substitute for a handle. 
It is supposed that Bill had pilfered and 
secreted the knife while dining at the hotel, 
whither he was daily allowed to go in cus- 
tody of officers. 

This scene in the court-room beggars all 
description. The State’s Attorney ap- 
peared to be gasping in the last agonies of 
death. Consternation seized upon every 
one. The judge hastily adjourned the 
court, and flew from his bench ; members 
of the jury fled affirighted from their seats ; 
while many of the spectators leaped uncer- 
emoniously from the windows. The con- 
stables and officers of the court partook of 
the general alarm. A few, however, sup- 
ported the bleeding form of Davis, and con- 
veyed him from .the room. 

After giving the blow, Bill stood im- 
movable, and gazed silently upon his vic- 
tim ; but on observing the terror pictured 
in every face, and the flight of nearly every 
one from the vicinity of his presence, he 
burst into a wild unearthly laugh, and ex- 
claimed — “ I hope to God that I have kill- 
ed him ! If the lying Marshall was here, 
I would serve him the same !” It was 
some time before .the officers mustered 
courage to approach the prisoner, but they 
finally began to huddle around him, and 
speak of securing him with irons. But not 
one of the number dared make the attempt. 
Bill, with his arms folded upon his breast, 
paced slowly backwards and forwards, and 
said that were it not for his fetters he 
would not stay long where he was. Fre- 
quently pausing, he would gaze sternly 
upon the instruments the law, and call 
tuem “ damned fools’' — “ a pack of cow- 
ards” — and other opprobrious epithets. — 
He was asked if he had any more knives. 


and he replied “No!” in a voice of thun- 
der. He was then asked if he wonld go 
down to jail, and he replied ‘‘yes.” On 
a motion being made to advance with a pair 
of irons, Bill declared that no irons should 
be put upon him — there was no necessity 
for it — he had no animosity against anyone 
present. “But,” said he, “bring me 
McLean Marshall, and I will butcher him 
as I have Davis ; you may then take me 
out upon the common, and hang me with- 
out judge or jury !” 

The sheriff and constables still stood in 
fear of Bill, and were suspicious of his wil 1 
and ittentions. After a while, one of his 
counsel approached, and asked Bill if he 
might not iron him. The final reply was — 
“ yes, I will let you — but those damned 
cowards shall not!” The counsel then 
took the handcuffs, and fastened them upo 
Bill’s wrists. When this was done, th 
constables were quite active in closing upci 
their prey. A large party of them accom 
panied Bill to jail, where he was so loaded 
with irons that he was scarcely able to srit 
up. They put extra fetters on his limbs, 
bars of iron on his breast and back, and 
chained him closely to the wall. No wild 
beast was ever so secured. 

The next day, Bristol Bill and Meadow* 
were conveyed to the Sj;ate Prison at 
Windsor. 

After a lingering period of agony, Mr. 
Davis recovered from his severe wound, 
and is now well. Bill had evidently aimed 
for the jugular vein, and the difference of 
half an inch in the direction of the blow 
would h&ve caused instant death. It cer- 
tainly was a narrow escape. 



OF BRISTOL BILL 7 * 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

MUSTOL BILL IN JAIL — HIS SCHEMES OF 

ESCAPE — EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENTS 

CONCERNING THE TORPEDO CASE. 

Iii order to fo^ow closely every incident 
connected with he more recent history of 
Bristol Bill, it will be necessary at 
times to retrace our dates, and cause our 
work to present many disconnected and de- 
tached chapters. 

The reader has thus far 3een Darlington 
tried, convicted, and sent to the State Pri- 
son. We will now again refer to the pe- 
riod when Bill was immured in Danville 
jail, awaiting the action of the law . He 
knew that he was in a “ tight place” — that 
every appearance was against him — and 
that all would be done that could be, to se- 
cure his conviction. His cunning and in- 
genuity were brought into operation, and 
at one time promised at least partial suc- 
cess. 

At this period, the second trial of the 
Drurys, in New York, was near at hand 
— the first having resulted in a disagree- 
ment of the jury. Thompson, who was a 
leading witness in the case, in fact the ac- 
cuser, was of course not looked .upon with 
much friendly feeling by Bristol Bill. — 
The idea suggested itself to the mind of 
Darlington, that if he could lead the Dis- 
trict Attorney of New York ic believe that 
he could throw much new light on the 
Drury case, means might be taken to con- 
vey him thither, to be used as a witness. 
Once in New York, and out of the imme- 
diate clutches of the Vermont authorities, 
he would have taken care that he never 
again crossed the line of ihe Green Mouh- 
tain State. Bill therelore prepared an 
affidavit — the truth of which must be 
judged by developments yet in the womb 
of time — and sent it to John McKeon, 


Esq., District Attorney of the city of No* 
York. It reads as follows : — 

“ I, W. H. Warburton, better known a* 
Wm. Darlington, do hereby state upon 
oath, that from facts in my possession, 1 
am perfectly assured that the torpedo dox 
was made by a relative of Wm. H. Thomp- 
son’s, by order of said Wm. H. Thompson ; 
the explosive matter it contained was con- 
trived and put therein by said Wm. H. 
Thompson ; that said Wm. H. Thofhpson 
was employed to do it by a person not 
herein mentioned, for which he was to re- 
ceive the sum of $500 if it succeeded in 
killing Thomas Warner, Esq., of 18 City 
Hall Place, in the City of New York. I, 
W. H. Warburton, further saith, that said 
Wm. H. Thompson did fill said box with 
combustible and explosive matter, and so 
constructed it that in opening said box the 
matter therein contained should ignitl and 
explode, and thereby destroy and take away 
the life of said Thomas Warner, Esq., and 
that Wm. H. Thompson did carry, or 
caused to be carried, the said torpeda box 
to the residence of said Thomas Warner, 
Esq., of 18 City Hall Place, in the city of 
New York, and delivered, or caused to be 
delivered, to an inmate of said Thomas 
Warner’s house, the said torpedo box, di- 
rected to said Thomas Warner, Esq., with 
the intention of taking the life of said 
Thomas W arner, Esq. I, W. H. War 
burton, otherwise Wm. Darlington, do fur- 
ther state upon oath, that I did in company 
act in concert with the said W. H. Thomp- 
son, in the rat council, as it was so termed 
in the Police Gazette , and I do most sol- 
emnly swear that said rat concern was a 
foul and black conspiracy, got up by the 
said Wm. H. Thompson, for the purpose 
of convicting Drury, and thereby save him- 
self, he being the principal actor fn the 
torpedo affair. I can also testify to other 
nefarious transactions of Wm. H. Thomp- 
son, some of which are now’ under your 
notice, where he is the accuser at the samo 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


(time lie is the principal culprit. I remain 
sir your lr*mble servant, 

“ Wm H. Warburton. otherwise 
“ Wm. Darlington.” 

In connection with this affidavit, Bill 
sent the following letter to Horace F. 
Clark, Esq., a lawyer in New Yo’-k city: 

“Danville, April 5, 1850. 

“ Horace F. Clark, Esq : — Sir — I 
write to inform you that I made an affida- 
vit, and swore to it on tha 26th of March, 
and forwarded it to J. McKeon, District 
Attorney for the city of New' York, stating 
that I was ready to come forward and 
show, from facts in my possession, that 
Thompson was the man that made the tor- 
pedo. 1 also told him that the whole of 
the cases got up against Drury were got up 
by perjury and conspiracy, which ' I can 
prove. I also stated in a document accom- 
panifig my affidavit to Mr. McKeon, that 
she rat council was a foul and black con- 
tpiracy, and that Thompson, Wilkgs and 
myself were the conspirators, and I further 
stated that. Thompson came on to Boston, 
and got certain persons to sw'ear to affida- 
vits of his own framing for the purpose of 
getting Drury indicted by the Grand Jury, 
as soon as he was arrested ; and I tell you 
Sir, if Drury goes to trial he will have 
more perjury to contend with than he is 
aware of, unless I am brought to York, as 
it is not in the power of any man to show 
the case in its proper light, except my 
orother cunspirators, and they dare not do 
it. After the base, foul and indefatigable 
exertions they have, and are using, they 
are bound to get a conviction, Wilkes to 
save his reputation and Thompson to save 
Jhis liberty. Now, sir, my motive in writ- 
ing to you is, because I cannot get an an- 
swer from Mr. McKeon as yet, or A. L. 
JordarT. I wrote to them again last Sun- 
day, begging them not to bring Drury to 
trial until they had seen me, as it is their 
duty to do, in justice to the man, and also 
the community IJvere are two persona 


who call themselves friends of mine, who 
undertook to see you about this matter ; 
but I fear to trust them, as I know Wilkes 
has got a great deal to fear from me, and 
he has, no doubt, heard of the step I have 
taken in this matter ; therefore he has been 
the cause of McKeon not paying any atten- 
tion to my affidavit or my letters. He is 
well aware, and so is Thompson, taat if I 
come to the city their case is damned, and 
also cue or both of themselves. I fear, sir, 
you have been kept ignorant of this matter, 
and the paities who were authorized to see 
you on my account have gone to Wilkes 
instead, and he and Warner will endeavor 
to get Mr. McKeon to bring the trial on 
immediately, for fear I should come on and 
foil them, ka fact, sir, I should not be 
surprised if even now the trial is going on, 
while I am writing ; but God forbid. And 
now, sir, if you feel any interest in this 
matter, and the trial has not been, I trust 
you will postpone the trial until you have 
seen me ; and let me beg of you sir, to 
come immediately upon receipt of this, or 
send me an answer, stating your intentions, 
and also whether or not you have had anv 
communications with any person respecting 
me and this business. 

“ I remain, sir, yours respectfully, 

W. H. Warburton, 
otherwise W. Darlington.” 

The above affidavit and letter created 
considerable excitement among certain par- 
ties in New York, but did not procure th8 
presence of Bristol Bill, as he had hoped 
for. 


CHAPTER XXIX. 

MARGARET O’CONNOR — HER RECAPTURE IN 
VERMONT — CONVEYED TO NEW YORK — * 
HER ESCAPE FROM THE TOMBS. 

It will be recollected that Margaret 
O’Connor was conveyed from Boston to 
New York, to be used as a witness in the 
Drury case and there remained on bail 


r 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


until Bristol Bill and Mead )\vs formed the 
scheme of going to Vermont, where she es- 
caped in their company. 

Nothing was known of her whereabouts 
until the arrest of Bill and his party in 
Vermon* was published in the newspapers. 
Thomas Warner, and Messrs. Wilkes and 
Stanley of the Police Gazette, immediately 
started from New York, and went to Dan- 
ville, to recapture the lady, and arrived 
there just as the primary examination ol 
the prisoners was concluded. But Mar- 
garet had flown, and the bird was not then 

to he found. She had too much shrewd 
• 

ness to be easily caged, and, knowing that 
she could afford no assistance to Bill, as 
soon as it was sure that he was “ fast,” 
she secretly left the town. But by some 
stratagem, Wilkes obtained a clue to her 
travels from some person who w;as cogni- 
zant of her plans. Margaret was therefore 
slowly traced from town to town, until she 
was suddenly surprised in Manchester, N. 
II., and accompanied to New York, where, 
to make sure of her future presence, she 
£38 lodged mi the Tombs. 

The celebrated consort of Bristol Bill 
remained in the city prison for several 
months; but confinement never weighed 
down her spirit, or dulled the natural cun- 
ning of her mind. She was ever ready to 
take advantage of all circumstanees that 
might inure to her benefit. 

During the month of July, 1850, a wo- 
man by the name of Dobbins, the wife of a 
laboring man, was arrested, and confined 
in the Tornbs on a charge of drunkenness. 
Margaret O’Connor here became acquaint- 
ed with Mrs. Dobbins, and also with her 
husband Thomas, who frequently visited 
his imprisoned wife. Before Mrs. Dob- 
bins left the Tombs, a plan was concocted 
between het and Margaret, to effect her 
(Margaret’s, escape, for which Mrs. Pis- 
tol Bi'l was ‘o pay Dobbins the sum of 
$100. A raise key was then required, and 
& pattern of the genuine key was given to 


Dobbins, wl/r procured one like it. Now 
the next job was to place the false key into 
Margaret’s possession ; and to effect that 
object, and as no strangers were permitted 
to visit Margaret, Dobbins placed himself 
at a window, which looks from the gallery 
of the Court of Sessions diagonally to tho 
window of the room where Margaret, 
O’Connor was confined. A piece of string 
was then fastened to this false key, by Dob 
bins, who threw it into the window, a di& 
tance of several feet, and thus it came into 
Margaret’s possession. She had it several 
days before a favorable opportunity offered 
to use it, and when it did come she made 
the best use of her time, opened the door, 
and thus made her escape to the street. 

Margaret very coolly walked to the hou.se 
of Doblins, in Essex street, and there re- 
mained secreted for about three weeks. A 
reward of $50 was offered by the keeper 
of the city prison for her arrest, but her 
hiding-} lace defied the ferret eyes of the 
police. All this time, Margaret with her 
fascinating ways, caused the man Dobbins 
to believe that he was to be paid the $100 
she had promised ; but, either from want 
of means or inclination — we know not 
which — the damsel omitted to give him the 
price of her escape. 

One day, in the latter part of July, Mar- 
garet caused her luggage to be conveyed to 
a schooner bound for Charleston, S. C., 
lying at the foot of Catharine street. Mr- 
Dobbins now became very uneasy, and was 
fearful cf losing not only Margaret but the 
$100. He therefore watched the lady’s 
luggage and soon discovered that it wa« 
again removed from the Charleston schoon- 
er to a Liverpool paiAet. Dobbins was 
now clearly convinced that Margaret did 
not inton i to pay him ; and knowing that a 
reward cf $50 had been offered by the 
keeper of the city prison for Margaret’a 
arrest, he took occasion to call upon Mrs 
Foster, the mation of the prison, undei 


T8 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


whose charge more especially, Margaret 
had been kept. 

“ Will the $50 reward be paid,” he 
asked, “ if Margaret O’Connor is arrest- 
ed V 1 

•‘Yes,” said Mrs. Foster, eager at the 
news — “ you shall have $100 if you find 
her.” 

“ Then,” remarked Dobbins, “ come or 
send some one with me, and I will show 
where Margaret is to be found.” 

Accordingly, two of the deputy keepers 
accompanied Dobbins to the Liverpool 
packet ship, discovered Margaret snugly 
ensconced in one of the cabins, took her 
into custody, and carried her back to the 
Tombs, where she was confined in a cell, 
and all her former privileges cut off. 

It was said that she had engaged her 
passage to Liverpool ; but the author 
doubts if she ever meant to embark for that 
place. So long as there remained a hope 
that she could effect anything for Bristol 
Bill, she would not have left the country ; 
but would rather have solicited the aid of 
skillful crossmen, and, in disguise, visited 
the vicinity of the Vermont State Prison, 
in order to concoct schemes for Bill’s es- 
cape. 

At the time of our present writing Mar- 
garet remains securely confined in the 
Tombs, -being held as a witness in the case 
of Drury, who is waiting trial on the 
charge of forgery. 


The Drurys, panting for revenge, en- 
deavored to fasten upon Thompson the 
guilt of attempted murder. There haa 
bee. so much of perjury in the Drury 
trials, that no one may readily believe the 
sworn testimony of any party. About the 
middle of September, 1850, One-Eyed 
Thompson was again arrested on the tor- 
pedo charge, and the reason thereof was 
the filing of the following affidavit by 
Samuel Drury, Jr- We give it as a cu- 
riosity in the records of crime : — 

AFFIDAVIT. 

“ City and County of New York, ss.~ 
Samuel Drury, Jr., being duly sworn, says 
that he resides at Astoria, Long Island ; 
that, owing to a difficulty or misunder- 
standing between deponent and his father, 
Samuel Drury, deponent left his father’s 
residence at Astoria about the middle of 
November, 1848, and did not return there- 
to until the fifth day of May, 1849. And 
deponent further says that, during that pe- 
riod, he held no communication with his 
father, and saw him but once, and then 
only for a moment ; that, after leaving his 
father’s house, deponent came to New 
York, where he remained about four days, 
and then left for the western part of the 
State of New York, in company with one 
John Ash, for the purpose of selling per- 
fumery .and receiving orders therefor ; that 
at the railroad station at Schenectady, W. 
H. Thompson accosted deponent, and ask- 
ed him what brought him there and where 


CHAPTER XXX 

OOINGS OF THE DRURY GANG— PLOTS AND 
COUNTER- PLOTS — THOMPSON ARRESTED 
A SECOND TIME ON THE TORPEDO CHARGE. 

Bristol Bill remains in the State Prison 
of Veirnont ; and in the meantime we keep 
watch of the doings of the Drury gang, in 
New Yqrk city — that association of felons 
with which Bill has been so long and in- 
timately conrected. 


he was going ; said Thompson then got in 
the cars and went on to near Buffalo, and 
the next time deponent saw said Thomp 
son, was at Buffalo, when said Thompson 
called to see deponent; said Thompson 
then inquired what deponent’s business 
was ; and on being shown his samples, he 
told deponent that he, Thompson, was a 
regular chemist, and could make the best 
hair dye and hair oil in the country, and 
told deponent that if he had any sale fol 




OF BRISTOL BILL. 


any, to send to nitr* for some of his best ; 
that deponent, on receiving orders for the 
article, did write to said Thompson for 
fifty bottles, but did not receive any ; that 
said Thompson further told deponent to 
call and see him as soon as he returned to 
New York, and he would put deponent in 
a way of making more money than he ever 
couid on the farm at Astoria ; that Thomp- 
son at this time ascertained from deponent 
that he was on unfriendly terms with his 
father, and did not intend to return to his 
father’s house, and said Thompson advised 
him not to return ; that deponent, in com- 
pany with said Ash, returned to the city of 
New York about the end of February, 
1849, and in accordance with the request of 
Bald Thompson, deponent called at the 
house of said Thompson, but he was ab- 
sent, and deponent did not see him until 
about the middle of March, when deponent, 
in company with said Ash, called again at 
the house of said Thompson, and deponent 
then saw him for the first time since his re- 
turn to the city ; deponent subsequently 
visited said Thompson frequently on the 
subject of the perfumery business, and said 
Thompson, on these occasions, told depo- 
nent he would be a fool to return to his 
lather, as he (Thompson) could put dqj>o- 
nent in a way of making money in the city 
of New York — that he would get Opponent 
a good place. Deponent further says, that, 
on the second day of May, 1849, said 
Thompson came to the store of Thomas 
Bell, Esq., No. 11 Spruce street, New 
York, where deponent was engaged as a 
Jerk, and told deponent that he, Thomp- 
son, wanted to see him at his (Thomp- 
son’s) house on the succeeding day, (May 
3, 1849,) at one o’clock, on important 
business concerning deponent and his fa- 
ther ; and further told deponent to be sure 
to come ; that on the 3d day of May, in 
accordance with said request deponent 
went to the house of Thompson, and ar- 
rived there about half past one o’clock, 


when Thompson met deponent, and cen- 
sured him for not being more punctual 
he then requested deponent to go up stairs 
— that he, Thompson, was busy, and 
would come up in a few minutes ; that de- 
ponent went up-stairs to the work-room of 
said Thompson', in the house 251 Division 
street, city of New York ; that in the cen 
tre of said room was a stout bench or table, 
upon which was screwed down a printing 
press ; that on the same bench or table 
were some tools — a saw, chisel, hammer, 
and some pieces of mahogany or red wood, 
three or four about a foot long, and some 
red shavings on the floor ; that said pieces 
of wood appeared to form the sides of a 
box ; after deponent had been in the room 
about fifteen minutes, Thompson came up, 
followed by his uncle Mount, who had a 
chisel in his hand ; Thompson then said to 
deponent that he had to go to Warner’s to 
get some money ; that he was in a hurry, 
and wanted deponent to come up again at 
eight o’clock the same evening ; at about 
half-past eight on the evening of the said 
3d of May, deponent again went to the 
h6use of Thompson, when Thompson met 
him on the stoop, and complained of depo- 
nent being late, and took deponent at once 
in the said work room, at the top of the 
house; that on said bench, or table, was a 
parcel covered with a newspaper, tied up 
with twine ; Thompson then told deponent 
that he had been to Warner, and had a 
regular muss with him ; that he was goirn* 
to take those counterfeit medicines (poin*r 
ing to said parcel) to Warner’s, and then 
he was going to have nothing more to do 
with the damned scoundrel ; Thompson 
then said, “ Sam, I wish you would write 
Mr. Warner’s direction on this piece of pa- 
per, my hands are all stickey and gluey ; * 
his hands were bound up ; deponent asked 
him what he should write ; Thompson said 
‘ Thomas Warner, Esq., No. 18 City Ilall 
Place,’ at the same time telling deponent 
to write it plain ; deponent wrote sat 


M> 


LIFE ANT) EXPLOITS 


Thompson requested ; Thompson then said 
(pointing to the left hand corner of the 
paper) put ‘ confidential ’ — remarking at 
the same time that there was a great deal 
in that little word, to any one that was in- 
quisitive, and said something about women 
and their curiosity ; when deponent had 
done that, Thompson took a brush from a 
gum arabic bottle, and pasted the paper on 
the parcel ; Thompson then put on his cap 
and cloaK, and took the parcel under his 
cloak, under his arm, and said, “ Come 
along, Sam, we can talk going down 
Thompson and deponent then left, and 
turned down East Broadway to corner of 
Chatham street ; deponent was then turn- 
ing off, saying, ‘ Good bye, Thompson, this 
is my way home;’ Thompson then said, 
' Come along as far as Warner’s ; the 
walk won’t do you any harm and when 
in City Hall Place, a little way from War- 
ner's house, Thompson said, ‘ Sam, I wish 
you would take this to Warner’s, Warner 
is not at home, he is gone to Philadel- 
phia;’ deponent took the parcel from 
Thompson, and had gone on four or five 
paces, when Thompson said, ‘ Hold on ; 
here, put my cloak on, so if Mr. Warner’s 
eon comes to the door he will not know 
you, for if he knew you he would tell his 
father, and then Warner would raise hell 
again, as he would think I had told you 
all about his and Moffatt’s schemes ;’ depo- 
nent then put the parcel on the sidewalk, 
and while Thompson was putting the cloak 
togfi deponent, a man passed, and had to go 
off the sidewalk to pass ; Thompson then 
put the cloak tight around deponent’s neck, 
pulled deponent’s hat down, and said, ‘Mr. 
Warner's son won’t know you now if he 
comes to the door ;’ Thompson then said, 
Why, Sam, you look pale,’ at the same 
time rubbing his hands down deponent’s 
face, and said, ‘ When yon get to War- 
ner's, ring the bell, ana if the girl comes to 
the door, tell her ‘o give that to Master 
Warner, as Mr Warner is not at home 


deponent rung the bell, a girl came to the 
door, to whom deponent gave the parcel, 
telling her, at the same time, to give it 
to Master Warner; deponent then came 
back, and met Thompson about where he 
had left him ; Thompson looked at depo- 
nent and laughed, and said, ‘Sam you are 
as black as a nigger ;’ which was the first 
knowledge deponent had that Thompson 
blacked his face ; deponent asked him whaA 
he had been doing ; he said, ‘ You get to 
my house he walked with deponent to 
corner of Division street and Bowery, 
when he parted from deponent, and met 
him again at his (Thompson’s) house, as 
soon as deponent got there ; deponent 
further says, that he was entirely ignorant 
of the contents of said box, except what 
Thompson stated relating to its contain- 
ing counterfeit medicines of Moffat’s ; that 
on the succeeding Saturday morning, May 
5, after the sale of Mr. Bell’s store, Mr. 
Bell read to deponent the account in the 
Herald, of the explosion at Warner’s 
house ; and the circumstances agreeing 
with those on which deponent had left the 
parcel tor Thompson at Warner’s house, 
deponent got frightened, and then return- 
ed to the house of his father, for the first 
time since he had left it in the preceding 
November. S. DRURY, Jr.” 

Th^|pharge also included Thomas War- 
ner, bnt he was nowhere to be found. At 
the calling of the elder Drury for a second 
trial, Warner, who was the principal wit 
ness, was discovered to have secretly es 
caped, and he has never since been heard 
of. The complaint against Warner and 
Thompson was lodged before Justice 
Mountfort. The affidavits of Mrs. Warner 
and her daughter, Mrs. Coleman, her son, 
George Warner, and those of Samuel 
Drury and Samuel Drury, Jr., with vari- 
ous others, were drawn up with great care 
aoi astonishing length by Justice Mount- 
fort, and submitted to the Grand J ury for 
their action in the premises. It is said 


OF BRISTOL BILL- 


31 


\ 


lliat the Grand Inquest made a thorough 
investigation of this matter, and that they 
heard all the witnesses whose testimony 
cou d in the slightest degree tend to throw 
additional light upon the case. After a 
most laborious investigation, which lasted 
for nearly five days, the Grand Jury came 
to the conclusion that there was not the 
slightest evidence to implicate Thoir.pson 
and Warner in the crime, and it was not 
deemed necessary to put them on their de- 
fence. Samuel Drury, Jr., was the only 
person, therefore, who remained under in- 
dictment for the torpedo business. 


CHAPTER XXXI. 

MORE REVELATIONS DIABOLICAL CONSPI- 
RACIES CRIMINAL EPISODES IN THE 

LIVES OF DRURY, ASHLEY, &C. 

Extracts from a volumnous affidavit, 
sworn to by M. C. Stanley, and prepared 
in June, 1850, for the Court of Sessions in 
New York city, will reveal to the reader, 
some thrilling revelations of crime. 

It had become necessary for Stanley, in 
consequence of a long series of malevolent 
attacks against his actions*,and character 
made by the Drury gang, to appeal to the 
Court in the shape of an affidavit, in order 
to rebut certain charges, and deprive the 
devisers of them of any triumph in his 
injury, which they might otherwise obtain 
by his silence. Stanley had been charged 
with receiving stolen goods, but was gen- 
erally believed to be innocent. He was, 
however, imprisoned in the Tombs for two 
days, the 8th and 9th of January, 1850. 
From this imprisonment, (Stanley says,) 
proceeds the matter which enables him to 
expose the villanies of those who maligned 
him. We quote from his affidavit as fol- 
ic ws : — 

“At this time, Samuel Drury and his 
son were in the same prison, on the torpedo 
<md other charges; James Arlington Ben- 


net was also there, on the charge of forgery ; 
and Joseph C. Ashley, their confederate, 
who was out on bail, (Drury being his 
bondsman,) was in the habit of visiting the 
prison. The arrest of Drury and Rennet 
had been made some time previously, 
through the agency of Mr. Wilkes, the 
editor of the National Police Gazette , who 
at times employed me in matters of police 
bysiness and police reports. In the matters 
relating to the torpedo, and to the arrest of 
Drury and others in that connection, he, 
however, had never given me any employ- 
ment, or ir&de me any communication, and 
during the whole period he occupied i» 
producing these developments, I waa 
entirely ignorant of his operations. Dru- 
ry, it would appear, became aware 
of this state of things after his arrest, and 
supposing, probably, that I might feel 
chagrined at Mr. Wilkes, for the apparent 
want of confidence he had shown towards 
me in the matter, ventured to speak to ma 
in a pleasant manner during his police ex- 
amination. This fact was reported to Mr. 
McKeon, who communicated it to Mr. 
Wilkes, and Mr. Wilkes in return required 
me to explain the circumstance. I did ex 
plain it, but he did not altogether receive 
it, or, at any rate, did not seem to be satis- 
fied that a person commonly supposed to bo 
in his employ, should compromise his posi- 
tion by an apparent intercourse with a per- 
son who been arrested through his action. 
When I was released from prison after my 
two days’ confinement, I went at once to 
Mr. Wilkes to thank him for his aid in my 
discharge, and to offer to undertake any- 
thing in reason to convince him that I waa 
blameless in my intercourse with Drury 
Thereupon it was agreed I should go hack 
into prison that night, conceal the fact ol 
my release, and ingratiate with Drury as a 
fellow-prisoner, in order to obtain from him 
the scheme, of his defence. I o accomplish 
this object, it was necessary I should de- 
nounce Mr. Wilkes for having abandoned 


82 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


me ; threaten McKeon for his persecutions 
and assume to be as bad a man as Drury 
himself. 

I followed out these views, and Drury 
at once on hearing my bitter invectives 
against Mr. McKeon, grasped my hand 
and pledged me his co-operation for re 
venge. “.You,” said he, wringing me 
hard and looking me steadily in the eye, 
“ are the orify man that can help me in this 
business. There are plenty who are will- 
ing, but they have no brains, no courage. 
With you, however, I can get revenge on 
McKeon, for 1 know you hate him and can 
overthrow them all.” 

He then developed the theory of his de- 
fence ; a thing which he said he had not 
yet done to his counsel, and gave as his 
reason for his reserve, the fact that he had 
been expecting to get out upon bail. His 
plan was to show that all the proceedings 
taken against him were the result of a con- 
spiracy on the part of One-eyed Thompson, 
and officers A. M. Smith and Jenkins, 
and that Mr. Wilkes had been duped. 
For this purpose he was to have a forged 
letter over Thompson’s signature, demand- 
ing $5,000 on the threat that he otherwise 
would explode a plot on him ; and another 
forged letter, over the signatures of Smith 
and Jenkins, in the hand-writing of the 
’atter, demanding $2,000 to purchase their 
silence in the case. The man who was to 
perpetrate the forgeries, Drury represented 
to be a prisoner named Biggs. * * * 

I then told him that 1 had heard he in- 
tended to prove an alibi in favor of the boy, 
;o the effect that he was in St. Louis when 
the box was taken to Warner’s house. 
“ Oh ! ” said he, “ I have abandoned that 
— there is no use in it ; it is too difficult, 
for Sam did take the Box , and they will 
And out that he slept at 22 Bowery the 
night he took it ? ” After Drury had con- 
considerably upon the feasibility of 
‘ of defence, he burst out suddenly 
".xclamation , “ but there is one 


thing dearer than sll the rest ; we ■ 
fix that villain, McKeon. I know where 
he can he caught asleep, and I have a man 
who will fix a shell which can be thrown 
into his window, and sweep him hell at 
a blow. The man I mean can do anything 
of that sort — will do anything I want him 
to do, but he wants a mind — a mind to 
direct him. You are just the man to di- 
rect him, and if you succeed in serving mo 
in this, my life and fortune' is at your dis- 
posal.” Here we parted, and I communicat- 
ed to Drury the fact that I was about to be 
bailed, but that I would come in and see 
him on the following morning. * * * 

On returning to the prison at six o’clock, 
Drury was laboring under much excite- 
ment, and the conversation was desultory 
He referred again to the destruction of Mr 
McKeon, and suggested a burglary upon 
his house with nippers, and the placing of 
a slow torpedo under his bed. * * * 

Drury’s confidence in me was now complete 
and, in referring to Ashley, he remarked, 
“ If I were out, I would turn up that whole 
Proctor business : he murdered Proctor. 
He poisoned him in his drink, and he died 
before he could get up stairs.’ After some 
further talk he remarked, ‘ I know all 
about the business;’ then, turning sud- 
denly upon me, he brushed his locks back 
from his temples, and said, ‘ Do I look like 
a Spaniard?’ The Court will bear in 
mind, in connection with this expression, 
that in 1841 or 1842, a person who called 
himself Roberto de la Yacca, appeared be- 
fore a Commissioner of Deeds in Wall 
street, in company with a . pretended Mr. 
Proctor, after the real Mr. Proctor was 
dead, and received from the latter, mort 
gage of two houses and lots in Collonaae 
Row, on Brooklyn Heights, belonging to 
the estate of the dead Proctor, one of 
which was subsequently found in posses- 
sion of Ashley on a subsequent mortgage 
made to him by Roberto de la Yacca. It 
would seem, therefore, by Drury’s remark. 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


03 


Chat he intended, I shouVJ understand, he 
had acted as Roberto de la Yacca. Drury fur- 
ther said that Ashley had poisoned a widow 
named Mrs. Puller, some years ago, to ob- 
tain her property and defraud her heirs. 
That he had ingratiated himself with her 
by his cant ; that she fell sick under his 
hands ; that he (Ashley) attended her bed- 
side ; that he changed the medicines the 
doctor left her by supplying bread for pills ; 
flour water for white potations, and harm- 
less red water for others. ’ That at times 
as she wasted he would administer minute 
doses of arsenic to foam her stomach up 
and prevent nature from making a rally to 
restore itself. That her mind weakened 
inder this treatment to the condition 
tecessary for his directions in making 
her will, and finally she died. At this 
interview Drury further communicated 
that he intended to prove by a wo- 
man named Mrs. Felstead, that Warner 
had slept with her in Chambers street on 
tb^ night of the torpedo, instead of being 
as he represented, in Philadelphia. He 
also said he intended to prove that Thomp- 
son, a man named Dowes and Warner 
went to St. Louis some months previous to 
the explosion, and that while away, the 
torpedo was made among them to kill War- 
ner’s wife. ‘ But Drury,’ said I, ‘ you 
have already told me that the box was 
made by Mount, Thompson’s uncle, at a 
place in Divison street ; how will you get 
over that?’ ‘Oh,’ said Drury, * all these 
things must be made to Jit in time ; every- 
thing cannot be done at once .’ At another 
interview with Drury he told me he had 
directed his outside emissary to follow Mr. 
McKeon, with the intention of procuring 
the torpedo papers as he had understood, 
that since the burglary on the District At- 
torney’s office, Mr. McKeon carried his most 
important papers with him from his office, 
and brought them down again in the morn- 
ing. He also said he had followed his di- 
rections on the premises Friday night, but 
6 


perceiving that other persons followed Mr. 
McKeon, and fearing they might be officers, 
he dropped away. Drury then requested 
me to ascertain where Mr. McK eon got 
shaved, in order that he might have the 
pocket of his overcoat picked of the papers 
when he hung it up. I communicated this 
to Mr. Wilkes, and he, after putting Mr. 
McKeon on his guard, as he said, gave me 
the information Drury wanted. ‘ I am de- 
termined to have those papers,’ said Dru- 
ry, ‘ if I am obliged to have Mr. McKeon ’s 
house ‘ nippered,’ or have the next house 
entered, if his is too secure, and Mr. 
McKeon’s reached by the scuttle or dor- 
mant window. ******** 
On Monday, the 21st, Drury seemed to be 
very much depressed, and spoke as if he 
had abandoned the whole line of his de- 
fence. He had discovered the treachery 
of Biggs, and seemed to think he was 
involved passed redemption. He wanted 
very much to learn where Bristol Bill v~as, 
and requested me to squire him out, but 
he did not explain his object. In his des- 
pondency, however, he did not suspect me, 
for in answer to an enquiry which I had 
been instructed to make, he informed me 

without hesitation, that was the man 

who had committed the burglary in the Dis 
trict Attorney's office, and was the man who 
was to make the petard and take in charge 
the destruction of Mr. McKeon and others# 
should it became necessary. ‘ There is 
only one thinj$fti the way of undertaking 
it at once,’ said Drury, and this is h 
wife and children.’ He does not like to do 
anything that will prejudice their situation, 
but if I will make arrangements to settle 
something on them incase he is ‘ done,’ he 
will undertake it.' Why, he used to be one 
of old Charley Garrett’s gang, didn’t you 
know that?’ Drury in this alluded to 8 
celebrated gang of burglars who had ori- 
ginally eseaped frorp Botany Bay. This 
was the last interview I had w ith Drury, 
in which he seemed to extend to me hi* 


M 


LIFE and exploits 


confidence.” This affidavit was signed by 
Marcus T. Stanley. The truth or falsity 
of its statements must be left to the judg- 
ment of the reader. 


CHAPTER XXXCI. 

MARGARET O’CONNOR’S LAST AFFIDAVIT — 

FURTHER EXPOSE OF THE TORPEDO AF- 
FAIR. 

About the middle of November, 1850, 
was published, in New York, an affidavit 
of Margaret, O’Connor, which created con- 
siderable interest in certain circles whose 
members were interested in the Drury af- 
fair. We give the affidavit in whole : — 

“ City and County of New York, ss. 

“ Margaret O’Connor, being duly sworn, 
deposes and says, that she is a single wo- 
man, and has for four years last past chief- 
ly resided in the city of New York. De- 
ponent further says^hat for a short time 
she lived with William Darlington, alias 
Bristol Bill, and about the month of Decem- 
ber, 1848, was by him introduced to Wil- 
liam II. Thompson, alias One Eyed Thomp- 
son, in the City Prison, in this city, where 
deponent had gone to see Darlington, who 
was confined there on charge of burglary. 
Darlington introduced Thompson to me by 
the name of Doctor Thompson. After 
Darlington’s trial and acquittal, deponent 
lived with him in a house^^ Essex street, 
in this city, until the first of April, 1849, 
when deponent went to the city of Boston 
Vo reside with Darlington, who had gone 
there about one month previously, and had 
written to eponent to come there. In the 
month of June, 1849, Thompson came to 
Boston and' made frequent visits to the 
house No. 7 Lancaster street, where Dar- 
lington and myself resided. Thompson 
very frequently visited Darlington when we 
lived in the house in Essex street, in this 
city Darlington and myself there passed 


by the name of Eddy. When Thompson 
visited us in Boston, the subject of the tor- 
pedo box that had been sent to the house of 
Mrs. Warner, No. 18 City Hall Place, New 
York, was frequently the subject of conver- 
sation between Darlington, Thompson and 
myself. It was well understood between 
us all, that the torpedo box was made and 
sent by Thompson, and he said that he re- 
gretted that he had not put more powder 
in it, and that it had not its purpose. He of- 
ten spoke of the construction of the box, 
and never pretended to deny his agency in 
the matter ; he seemed to be pioud of it. 
and said that Mr. Warner was bound to 
stick by him. Deponent understood, per- 
fectly well, that the box had been made 
by Thompson, by the procurement of 
Warner, to destroy the life of Warner’s 
wife. Thompson avowed to me the plan if 
charging the crime upon “ Old Drury,” for 
the purpose of clearing Warner’s charac- 
ter ; he said that he was “ bound to stick 
by Warner, and Warner was bound to stick 
by him, and that they would sink or swim 
together.” Thompson said that the strong- 
est hold he had on Drury was, that he had 
made a tool of his boy. Thompson told me 
that it was well understood between him 
and Warner that the crime should be charg- 
ed upon “ Old Drury,” and deponent says 
that it was well understood by Darlington, 
myself, and Thompson, that “ Old Drury,” 
was perfectly innocent of it. On the 28th 
July, 1849, I was arrested in Boston, for 
passing counterfeit money on the Eagle 
Bank, of Bristol, Rhode Island. Deponent 
was tried in the month of August follow- 
ing, and^was found guilty by the jury ; on 
the last day of my trial, Thompson came to 
me in court, and proposed to me that if de- 
ponent would swear that Drury had made 
the box and sent it to Warner's house foi 
the purpose of killing him, (Warner,) de- 
ponent should get her liberty. Thompson 
had not any opportunity to say much iron 
to me at that time, as the off.ee rs were be- 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


6a 


nde me. Thompson said that Warner and 
Wilkes would go up to the Governor of the 
State of. New York, at Albany, and induce 
him to write to the authorities of the State 
of Massachusetts, to send deponent to New 
York, that she might be used as the princi- 
pal witness against Drury, upon the charge 
of sending the torpedo box to Waarnor’s 
house. Deponent consented to do it, on 
condition that she should have her liberty. 
After the trial had terminated on my con- 
viction, Thompson wrote letters to depo- 
nent, and gave sketches of what she was to' 
swear to, and instructed me to read them over 
often, having first copied then, in my own 
handwriting so that I should not forget. He 
also instructed me in his letters to destroy 
them as soon as 1 had read them, which I 
did, as directed. The plan was to charge 
the crime upon Drury to clear Warner. 
Thompson told deponent that she would get 
twenty year’s imprisonment in the State 
prison, if she did not adopt the plan he pro 
posed. Darlington urged me to accede to 
Thompson’s proposition ; and I did so. 
There was a statement of what deponent 
was to swear against Drury drawn, up by 
Thompson, and copied by me, and re-copied 
by deponent s lawyer in Boston, and it was 
then signed by deponent in the presence of 
Marshal Tukey and officer A. M. C. Smith, 
of New York, who had come on from 
NevYork for that purpose. Deponent 
said the statement was true, and that she 
would swear to it in New York. Alfer- 
wards, towards the end of September, 
Warner came from New York to me, and 
he gave me a pledge for himself and Mr. 
Wilkes, that deponent should have her 
liberty if she would swear to said state- 
ment. He came twice to see me while I 
was in prison. Thompson had told me 
that it was all arranged between himself, 
Warner, and Wilkes, and that it was well 
known to them that said statement was 
false. Thompson described Warner to me, 
ao that I could know him when he oame to 


the prison. Warner afterwards came on 
to cause deponent to be bailed out of pri- 
son, and after she was bailed, took her in 
a carriage to the Revere House, wheie 
Warner introduced Thompson to deponent, 
as though Thompson was a stranger to her. 
Deponent had been previously prepared for 
this by Bristol Bill ; aud as deponent was 
at the bottom of the steps of the Revere 
House, Warner said to me, “ Now I want 
you to understand that you never saw 
Thompson before, and I am going to intro- 
duce him to you as though he were a 
stranger.” When we had entered the Re- 
vere House, the ceremony of introduction 
of Thompson by Warner took place. The 
plan was, to make it appear that deponent 
had never seen Thompson before, and depo- 
nent was to swear that she had never seen 
Thompson before. Deponen^Thompson and 
Warner dined together in a private room, 
in the Revere House, and all three left for 
New York in company that afternoon. On 
our arrival at New York, the next morn- 
ing, we all three got into a carriage, and 
went to the house of A. M. C. Smith, 
where Thompson and deponent went in, and 
Warner remained in the carriage. Officer 
Smith had not arisen at ihe time, and 
Thompson went up and woke him, while 
deponent went in the basement ; Smith 
came down stairs with Thompson, and 
spoke to deponent, and told deponent to re- 
main a little while after Thompson left the 
house, and then she would leave and meet 
Thompson at the corner of Grand street and 
the Bowery. Thompson left the house 
first, and deponent followed him as Smith 
directed ; Smith told me that Thomp- 
son would take me where Bristol Bill was. 
As deponent was approaching Thompson, 
who was at the corner of Grand street and 
the Bowery, Thompson motioned to me to 
keep along on the same side of the street 
where I then was, Thompson being on the 
other side. We kept on until we arrived 
at the Grand street ferry, where we went 


m 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 




on board of the ferry boat ; and on our ar- 
rival on the Brooklyn side deponent follow- 
ed Thompson to the Fulton Ferry, near 
which he'took deponent into a porter house 
and introduced her to the proprietor as his 
wife. Thompson then got a carriage, and 
and took me to a place called Bedford, 
where he dismissed the carriage ; and then 
took me through a wood about two miles 
or more, to a place called Carrsville, 
where he took me to a house occupied by 
his mother-in-law, and where deponent 
found Bristol Bill, who was expecting me. 
After remaining there about a week, depo- 
nent, by direction of Thompson, came to 
the house of George Wilkes, in White 
street, New York, where she met Thomp- 
son, and where Thompson, Wilkes, and de- 
ponent had an interview of about half an 
hour ; Wilkesiimpressed upon deponent’s 
mind the necessity of clearing Warner, and 
pledged himself that if deponent would 
swear to the statement she had made in 
Boston, that he would get deponent out ot 
asr difficulty, and said he had the powes to 
doit ; he (Wilkes) told deponent that he 
had been the means of sending a great 
many to the State Prison, and that he 
could serve deponent if she would swear 
to that statement against Drury ; deponent 
understood, from his conversation, that he 
would get her into the State prison too if she 
refused to swear to the statement ; he told 
me to place myself entirely in the hands of 
Thompson, and act as he directed, deponent 
gave Wilkes to understand, in indirect 
terms, that the statement against Drury was 
false ; and deponent has no doubt that Mr. 
Wilkes knew perfectly well that it was 
false, and that he (Wilkes) was a party to 
the whole contrivance ; deponent was at 
Wilkes’ house several times — she thinks 
as often as five or six ; upon some of those 
occasions Thompson was not present, but 
Wilkes was there ; deponent had several 
interviews with the District Attorney, at 
his office ; but prior to going there, she, 


on every occasion, first went to the hottM 
of Wilkes, by direction of Thompson 
where Wilkes made me repeat the state* 
ments I had made against Drury, and he 
impressed upon my mind the necessity of 
remembering it exactly, and to be cautious 
and not let my statements, on different oc- 
casions, conflict with each other. While 
at the house of Wilkes, Thompson, in the 
presence of Wilkes, made suggestions of 
additional false statements respecting Dru- 
ry, v-hich he wished me to swear to ; and 
Wilkes always impressed upon me the ne- 
cessity of my following Thompson’s in- 
structions and directions to the letter. De- 
ponent remained at Carrsville, never leav- 
ing there, unless to go to the house of 
Wilkes, and from thence to the office ot 
the District Attorney, for about three 
weeks, except on one occasion, when I 
went first to the house of Wilkes, and 
thence to the office of the District Attor- 
ney,* and from thence, by request of the 
District Attorney, to the police court, in 
Centre street, where deponent made a state- 
ment of what she would swear against 
Drury,’ relative to the torpedo box sent to 
the house of Warner. That statement was 
written down by Stuart, Clerk of Police, 
and, so far as it indicated Drury in the mat- 
ter of sending the torpedo box, it was en- 
tirely false and untrue. Deponent had left 
Carrsville about three days previous, and 
h^^-one to Brooklyn to reside. The day 
fcW&wing that on which deponent made her 
statement at the Police Court, as above 
stated, she went to Vermont, by directions 
of Thompson who supplied her with twen 
ty-eight dollars to pay her travelling ex 
penses ; he told me ‘ Bristol Bill ’ was there, 
and gave me directions where to find him. 
Thompson said he would be there himself 
in about a week. After deponent had been 
in Vermont above one month, Bristol Bill 
was arrested there, and deponent went to 
Manchester, New Hampshire, where War- 
ner and Marcus C. Stanley arrested me, and 


9 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


87 


brought me to New York ; on my way 
here, both Warner and Stanley impressed 
upon me the necessity of my swearing to 
the statement respecting Drury, relative to 
the torpedo box, and promised me that if 
I should do so, I should be released* the 
moment I left the witness' stand ; on our 
arrival in New York, we were met at the 
railroad car by Wilkes and officer A. M. 
C. Smith, who conducted me to the prison 
in Centre street. Deponent further says, 
that she was persuaded, and induced to 
make the false statement implicating Mr. 
Drury in the charge of sending the torpe- 
do box to the house of Mr. Warner, by 
means of the promises made to her by 
Warner, Thompson and Wilkes, that by 
so doing she should be liberated from im- 
prisonment, and that it was by such means 
that she became a party to the conspiracy 
of Thompson, Warner and Wilkes, and 
others, to convict Mr. Drury of a crime 
of which she believes Thompson and War- 
ner to be guilty. 

Margaret O'Connor.” 

How much truth or falsity there is in the 
foregoing affidavit we will not attempt to 
say. 

The following is a copy of a letter ad- 
dressed by the Grand Jury of New York 
city to Gov. Briggs : — 

“ New York, Oct. 16, 1850. 

His Excellency George N. Briggs, 

Governor on the State of Massa- 
chusetts. 

“ Sir : — The Grand Jury for the city 
and county of New York, empannelled 
at the Court of General Sessions, for the 
present October term of that Court, beg 
leave to present before your Excellency and 
the Council of the State of Massachusetts, 
the case of Margaret O Connor, whom we 
find in the prison in this city, where she 
i’s detained upon a commitment as a wit- 
ness, upon charge preferred against cer- 
tam parties, for having caused a torpedo 
box, or infernal machine, to be sent to the 


house of Thomas W arner, in this city, in 
the month of May 1849, with the intent 
to destroy life. 

The circumstances under which this, wo* 
man appears have strpngly commended her 
tb our sympathy, and we recommend her 
to your Excellency as a fit subject for exe- 
cutive clemency. - 

It appears that Margaret was convicted 
at the Municipal Court of the city of Bos- 
ton, in the month of August, A. D. 1849, 
for having in her possession counterfeit 
money, with the intent to utter ; that after 
her conviction, and before sentence, she 
was procured to be bailed out of prison, in 
Boston, in order that she might be brought 
on to this city, and be made use of as a 
witness against one Samuel Drury, who 
stood charged with the offence of sending 
the torpedo box ; that the application that 
she might be thus bailed was made by 
public officers of this State, who had been 
induced, by parties interested, to believe 
that Margaret could give material testimo- 
ny relative to the criminal offence above 
mentioned. 

The testimony against Drury, which 
Margaret was to give was false, and she w T as 
induced to promise to testify falsely by the 
persuasion of these parties and by the ap- 
prehension of a long term of imprison- 
ment for the offence of which she had been 
convicted at Boston. 

It was represented to her that she would 
be imprisoned twenty-five years, and that 
the only chance for her to escape from 
such imprisonment was to make the false 
statement upon and by means of which the 
parties interested in having the false state- 
ment made could procure her to be bailed 

She was bailed out of prison in Bos- 
ton, in the sum of $1,000, and brought on 
to this city, for I he express purpose of com- 
mitting this perjury, and upon the trial of 
Drury she was called as a witness in bi- 
half of the people of this State. 

When upon the stand as a witness, she 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


68 

ref :sed to commit the perjury, and disclos- 
ed the fraud which had been attempted to 
he perpetrated by means of her testimony. 

After she came to this city, and before 
the trial of Drury, every conceivable effort 
was made to induce her to make the false 
statement. She was promised that strong 
influences should be brought to bear to 
induce the Executive of the State of Massa- 
chusetts to pardon her, in case Drury was 
convicted by means of her testimony ; and 
the threat of her certain return to Mass- 
achusetts to be sentenced, and of the 
long imprisonment to which she was des- 
tined, was held out to her as the in- 
evitable consequence of h6r refusal. But 
to her honor be it said, she resisted all 
the efforts made to induce her to commit 
the perjury, and resolved to meet the ter- 
rors of her long imprisonment rather than 
tell the falsehood. 

The court and jury, upon the trial of 
Drury, were so impressed with the truth 
jf her statement, that upon the sugges- 
tion of the jury, the trial was at once ter- 
minated by the acquittal of the prisoner. 

In the discharge of our duty as Grand 
Jurors at the present term of the court, 
she has, at our request, appeared before 
us upon several occasions, and has made 
developments which have essentially aid- 
ed the adminstration of public justice. We 
have carefully scrutinized her statements, 
and we have perfect confidence that she 
has told us the truth. Of this we are 
satisfied, as well by corroborating circum- 
stances as bv the intrinsic evidence afford- 
ed by her statements. 

The parties who induced her to consent 
to commit the perjury are now determined 
upon her destruction, because she has re- 
fused, and design to have her surrendered 
in Boston in exoneration of her bail. 

She is in very feeble health, and in the 
judgment of the physician, and the matron 
of our city prison, longer confinement 
would probably terminal e her life 


Under these circumstances, in view ol 
the aid she has rendered in thf, administra- 
tion of our criminal justice, in view of her 
stern and inflexible resistance to the efforts 
made to induce her to swear to a falsehood 
as the only means of ensuring her safety, 
and in view of her shattered health, we 
strongly recommend her as a fit and proper 
subject for executive clemency. 

We are with great respect, 

* Your very ob’t servants, 
Elias G. Drakl, Foreman. 
[And signed by eighteen Grand Jurors.] 
The following correspondence between 
high legal authorities in New York and 
Boston may not prove uninteresting in con 
nection with the preceding documents 
“ New York, Nov. 7 , 1849 
“ Samuel D. Parker, Esq : — 

“ Dear Sir : — There are measures on 
foot here, for the detection of the villain or 
villains who, some time ago, attempted the 
life of Thomas Warner, with what is or- 
dinarily termed an “ infernal machine.” 
I have been put in possession of an affida- 
vit made by a woman named Margaret 
O’Connor, at Boston, in which it appears 
that she can testify to material matter. I 
understand that she is under arrest for 
being implicated in passing counterfeit 
money, and that the authorities of Massa- 
chusetts would give us facilities for obtain- 
ing her testimony ; in short, that they 
would send her on here to testify, on a 
proper request. Will you have the good- 
ness to inform me whether her attendance 
can be had in this city? We have h grand 
jury now in session, and could she be here, 
we might at once present the case before 
them. Unless she can be sent directly on, 
please communicate to me the state of the 
matter, and what steps will be requisite to 
obtain her attendance. 

“ Your ear.y answer will oblige, very 
respectfully your obedient servant, 

A. L. Jordan, 

, Attorney General, N. Y.” 


OF BRISTOL BILL 


“New York, Nov. 20, 1849. 

“Deir Sir: — An indictment having 
been found this day, against Samuel Dru- 
ry for counterfeiting, and another against 
himself and his son for an attempt to mur- 
der Thomas Warner, Esq; the undersign- 
ed (the first as District Attorney of this 
city, and thesecond as the substitute for the 
Attorney General in the proseeution of the 
indictments) take the liberty of addressing 
you upon a subject intimately connected 
in their judgment, with the ends of justice. 

We are informed that a person named 
Margaret O’Connor has been convicted, in 
year city, of passing some of the bills, for 
the counterfeiting of which or of similar 
ones, Drury was indicted. An examina- 
tion of the case has satisfied us that the 
testimony of this woman is very material 
upon the trial of both the indictments, and 
the object of this communication is to in- 
vite your consideration of the question 
whether she cannot be immediately placed 
within the reach of the officers of justice 
here, for this purpose, consistently with 
the demands of justice upon her in your 
city. If you can see no objection to this 
course, we can only again assure you that 
it is our firm belief that the course of justice 
will be greatly promoted by her presence 
here without delay. 

Mr. Warner, who is probably in Boston, 
or will be so before this reaches you, can 
explain to you fully, the points materially 
important in the testimony of the woman. 

Very respectfully, your ob’t servants, 
John McKeon, Dist. Att’y. 

David Graham. 

Hon. S. D. Parker, Boston.” 

“ New York, Feb. 16, 1850 

Hon. Samuel D. Parker : 

Sir : — Having understood that it is your 
intention to forfeit the recognizance in the 
case of Margaret O'Connor, we deem it our 
duty to inform you of her relations to the 
ease of Drury,' and the reason why she was 
not examined as a witness on this trial. 


88 

This we do as a matter of justice, no less 
to you than ourselves ; because it was no 
doubt, on our assurance that the purpose* 
of justice required her presence here, that 
you assented to her being admitted to bail. 

When she arrived here, she communi 
cated to us very important facts bearing 
upon the case of Drury, of the truth of 
which we were satisfied, both from her 
manner of telling them and from strong 
corroborating facts. On an application, 
she was provided, by order of the Court, 
with suitable lodgings, wheie she remain’ 
ed until just before the commencement of 
the trial ; and it was not until the morning 
on which it was commenced, that we were 
informed of her disappearance. Up to that 
time every thing had been done on the part 
of the prosecution to secure her attendance, 
and, as wesupppsed, effectually done. Of 
the good faith in this respect of every one 
connected with the prosecution, we are en- 
tirely satisfied. We have reason to be- 
lieve that. she is somewhere in this city, or 
its neighborhood, and that her attendance 
upon the next trial, in April, can be secur- 
ed ; — and deeming her testimony of great 
importance, we should regret that any step 
should be taken which would deprive us of 
its benefit. You will, of course, be guid- 
ed in your action on the subject, by your 
own sense of duty you owe the State you 
represent ; but we would at the same time 
respectfully suggest tnat a delay sufficient- 
ly long to enable us to find her, and secure 
her testimony, may be very conducive to 
the ends of just ice here, and not prejudicial 
to theoe which you are seeking to attain 
Should our efforts in this respect fail, we 
will inform you at the earliest possible day 
so that you can then pursue such course aa 
you may think necessary. 

With great respect, very truly yours, 

Johm Mc-Keon, District Attorney. 

David Graham. 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


CHAPTER XXXIII. 

A RETROSPECTIVE CHAPTER IN THE LIFE 

OF BRISTOL BILL HIS ATTEMPT TO LEAD 

AN HONEST LIFE AN ATTEMPTED ROB- 

BERY AND ESCAPE FROM JAIL, NOT HITH- 
ERTO MENTIONED BRISTOL BILL’S PER- 

SONAL APPEARANCE. 

The reader has seen, at some length, in 
a review of the Drury and Thompson 
cases, the unparalleled rascality of the 
great and accomplished gang of law-break- 
ers with which Bristol Bill, previous to his 
arrest in Vermont, had some years been con- 
nected. How many of these villians are 
to be brought to justice remains to be seen. 

In drawing our narrative to a close, we 
would not neglect to mention a few inci- 
dents in the career of Bristol Bill which 
the author in the course of his work has 
hitherto overlooked. Among the most in- 
teresting, perhaps, are Bill’s attempts to 
reform. 

Whether it was because he had become 
coo well known to the police to thrive well 
in his burglarious profession., or whether 
Bill actually felt some compunctions of 
conscience, and thought he should be a 
happier man if an honest one, we cannot 
say ; but true it is, that some two or three 
vears since, in New York city, when by no 
means reduced to poverty, Bill made up 
his mind to forsake his criminal career, 
and earn his bread by the honest labor of 
his hands. In accordance with this credit- 
able intent, he sought for employment, and 
soon engaged himself to the proprietor of 
a large machine manufactory — his mechan- 
ical knowledge and skill best fitting him 
for the business which he succeeded in ob- 
taining. But there was no rest for him — 
he could do nothing to which an evil mo- 
tive would not be attributed by the harpies 
of the law, who watched his whereabouts. 
Conceiving that this was merely a scheme 
to further some villanous design, the police 
informed the manufacturer as to the char- 
acter of his newly-hired workman, and 


Bill was of course forthwith discharged 
Discouraged at this attempt to lead a cor- 
rect life, Bill returned to his old habits. 
We, however, at another period, find him 
at a small country town in Connecticut, 
under a new name, very civil and quiet in 
his deportment, and, though, little known, 
respected by his neighbors. He is owner 
of a saw-mill, and day after day he may be 
found, in his shirt-sleeves, toiling like any 
honest, hard-working man. Sawing logs 
keeps him busy and happy — he feels like a 
new man — and he whistles gaily ’mid the 
hum and buzz of his daily labor. Weeks 
and months fly on, and Bill has become 
quite used to his occupation, and scarcely 
thinks of past dangers or future crimes. 
But again the blood-hounds are on his 
track. The chief-of-police in New York 
learns accidentally that Bristol Bill is in a 
certain town in Connecticut. A police- 
man is instantly despatched to the scene — 
he at once recognizes his victim — he can- 
not arrest him, but the public are made 
aware of whom they have been entertain- 
ing in their midst. Poor Bill ! the world 
will not now let you be honest if you 
w T ould. There is no alternative but a re- 
turn to crime. Bill is broken up in his 
business — leaves the town, and once more 
mingles with his old pals in the great 
cities. So much for the vigilance and 
justice of the officers of the law. 

It appears that among other adventures, 
the particulars of which we have not been 
able to obtain, Bristol Bill, some year or 
two since, attempted the robbery of the 
Bank at Georgetown, Mass. He had com- 
pleted all his preparations for the under- 
taking, and was about to commence upon 
the final act. But it chanced that the af- 
fair was discovered, and Bill was obliged 
to fly. In the spring of 1850, however 
he made another attempt, aided bv two or 
t hree comrades They had nearly obtained 
entrance to the Bank, when they were set 
upon by the authorities, who had mysteri* 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


VI 


§nsly obtained an inkling of the matter. 
Sill and one of his pals were arrested. 
They were examined, and held fer trial — 
being lodged, in the meantime, in the 
Essex county jail. The authorities little 
dreamed that they had in custody the noto- 
rious burglar who was known by the name 
of Bill Darlington, or they might have! 
taken unusual pains to keep him secure. 
But one fine morning, the jailer found that 
his birds had flown. The gratings of the 
window in Bill’s cell had been wrenched 
from their sockets, and left an aperture 
through which the turn-key gazed in dis- 
may. Nothing more was heard of the 
Georgetown Bank robbers. 

There has always been considerable 
mystery concerning Bill’s long rendezvous 
in Boston ; but it may be partly explained, 
from the fact that he had always efficient 
aids and coadjutors in this vicii^y, ready 
to help him in any emergency, in the way 
of “ fences,” (or persons who received 
stolen goods, or exchanged stolen money,) 
he had individuals of high reputation to 
lean upon. It is a startling fact, though 
nevertheless true, that the cashier of a 
Boston Bank stood ever ready to exchange 
with any funds brought to him by Bristol Bil 
wh.ose character he was well acquainted. 
The cashier felt perfectly safe — he received 
a generous per centage, and the stolen 
money was soon irredeemably lost sight of 
in the vortex of banking operations. Be- 
sides this gentleman, Bill had the services 
of a noted broker on State street, who was 
seldom prone to ask questions, when he 
saw an opportunity of making money. 

As an instance of Bill’s generosity, the 
author would relate the following incident, 
which he obtains on the best authority. 
There was a counting-room in the vicinity 
of State street, where Bill well knew tha t 

ite a yim of money was left every night 
He found a plan to effect an entrance ; and 
With this view, he proceeded to fit a key to 
the outside door. A fter several attempts, 


the key was completed, and the burglai 
waited for a certain night to accomplish 
the robbery. It so happened, however, 
that in the meantime, the merchant failed 
to a large amount, and it was reported in 
the newspapers of the day that he was sud- 
denly become a beggar. It had such an 
! effect upon the mind of Bill, that he aban- 
doned the contemplated robbery, although 
he knew r that he would have been well 
paid for his pains, had he attempted it. 

We have proceeded nearly to the com- 
pletion of our work without giving any 
description of the personal appearance of 
the subject of our sketch. The author 
will therefore speak of Bristol Bill as he 
saw him in the streets of Boston during 
the month of September, 1849. lie was 
undoubtedly forty-six or forty- seven years 
of age, although the casual observer might 
have taken him to be much younger. His 
complexion was quite dark ; his hair was 
nearly jet black, but somewhat thin on the 
top of his head, and very slightly sprinkled 
with grey. His eye was deep, black, keen 
and restless, and seemed to observe, at a 
single flash, everything that transpired 
around. His nose was short, though by 
no means a pug — the nostrils wide and dis- 
tended. His forehead was exceedingly 
broad, but not remarkably high. His step 
was quick, and his personal appearance 
quite gentlemanly. We should judge him 
to be about five feet eight inches in height. 
His shoulders were broad, and his whole 
form denoted great strength and activity. 
The expression of his face was singularly 
changing. At one time it was beaming 
with amiability and pleasantry ; at another, 
it was like the cloud that hides the thunder 
bolt. Determination was written in every 
lineament of his bronzed features, and gave 
portentous warning of the great passions 
that slumbered within his breast. But 
there were honorable impulses that guided 
many of Darlington’s actions. He was 
never what might be called a “mean’ 


n 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


man. W ith those to whom he looked with 
gratitude, he was ever frank and generous. 
To those who treated him in a fair and 
manly manner, his heart and purse were 
always open, fie was never a traitor to 
his friends. * But for those who had de- 
serted him in the hour of need, — who had 
proved recreant to their pledges and his 
friendship, — there was no vengeance too 
terrible. Retribution, though slow, was 
sure to be visited upon the head of the of 
fender. Such was Bristol Bill — firm and 
true to his friends ; terrible and revengeful 
to his enemies. 

While confined in the jail at Danville, 
Vt., awaiting trial, it is said that he made 
some most astounding and almost incredi- 
ble confessions of his criminal acts and 
doings, plots and designs, committed and 
meditated in the city of New York. But 
most of these, as circulated by rumor and 
in print, have been gross exaggerations, 
and not at all consonant with the character 
of the man. 

At the time Bill was committed to the 
State Prison in Windsor, the overseer re- 
quired him (as is the case with all con- 
victs) to undress and bathe, before assum- 
ing the prison garb. On strip r himself, 
the by-standers observed upon his back the 
scars resulting from his severe whippings 
at Botany Bay. On being questioned in 
regard to them, Bill coolly and facetiously 
remarked — ‘ Oh, they are only emblems of 
my honorable profession !” 


CHAPTER XXXIV. 

CHRISTIAN MEADOWS HIS APPEARANCE AND 

CHARACTER MARGARET O’CONNOR, AND 

OTHV1R PERSONS IN THE DRAMA. 

A« we advance to the latter pages of our 
narrative, it is fitting that we should again 
refer to the counterfeiter, Christian Mead- 
ows, who was Bristol Bill’s associate in 


crime, and is now the companion of nis im* 
prisonment. Christian Meadows is an 
Englishman by oirth, and apparently thir- 
ty-two or thirty three years of age. He is 
a man full six feet in height, of strong 
muscular frame, and extremely erect in 
person. He has a light complexion — blue 
eyes — light brown hair — a large aquiline 
nose — a wide mouth, and thick lips. He 
is really a good looking man ; his address 
is very courteous, and a stranger would 
hardly select him for a villain. He is evi- 
dently a man of considerable talent, and 
has earned a good degree of celebrity as 
an engraver. Great skill in his art vety 
naturally led him, during periods of mis 
fortune, into the crime of bank-note coun 
terfeiting, and his success in that illegal 
occupation was remarkable. But he was 
finally detected, tried, convicted, and sen- 



.Prison m Charlestown, Mas®. Meadows 
seems to have been born for better deeds ; 
but, under corrupt influences and vicious 
associations, he became an efficient and dan- 
gerous instrument in the hands of his more 
wily confederates. He is a man who 
would, probably, be far more easily in- 
fluenced, than successful in influencing 
others — one who would readily become a 
useful tool in the hands of others. He has 
not that quick foresight and cunning sagac 
ity which would enable him to plan and 
lay out a great and intricate work, but, 
when it was once pointed out, he would 
diligently and faithfully pursue the instruc- 
tions of his superiors ; hence, he was pe- 
culiarly fitted for successful operations in 
crime, when under the guidance, and prof- 
iting by the adroit experience^ of such a 
man as Bristol Bill. But both of these 
celebrated culprits are now in the confines 
of a State Prison ; and talents, that would 
have brilliantly shone in the honest vvalk3 
of life, are entirely lost to their possessors 
and the world. They certainly form a «if>* 
ancholy instance of perverted genius 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


93 


We will now return to another impor- 
tant personage, who has figured conspicu- 
ously in this great and mysterious drama 
of crime. We refer to Margaret O’Con- 
nor, the devoted consort of Bristol Bill. — 
We left her last in the Tombs, in New 
York city, where she had been detained 
for some months as a witness in the Drury 
eases. 

During the second week in December, 
1850, Margaret, having been surrendered 
by her bail in New York, was brought 
back into the custody of the authorities of 
Boston. A day or two after, she was car- 
ried before the Supreme Court, to receive 
sentence. It will be recollected that the 
original charge upon which she was con- 
victed, was for passing four counterfeit 
bills of the Eagle Bank, Bristol, R. I., on 
the 24th of July, 1849, to several traders 
in Hanover and Washington streets, Bos- 
ton. Her conviction on this indictment 
took place at the October term (in the same 
year) of the Municipal Court. The case 
was then filed’ up to the Supreme Court on 
exceptions by her counsel. About this pe- 
riod, she certified that she was in posses- 
sion of facts which would convict Drury 
in New York. Her bail was accordingly 
reduced to $1000, and in November, 1849, 
she went to New York with Thomas War- 
ner and Bristol Bill. When called upon 
to testify, she made various contradictory 
statements, and partially acknowledged that 
she had humbugged the authorities of Bos- 
ton. She was imprisoned in the Tombs, 
and contrived by her repeated stories to 
make the Attorney General of New York 
believe that she could yet be of service to 
the State in convicting One Eyed Thomp- 
son. She was consequently retained by 
the New York authorities until she escaped 
from prison — the particulars of which af- 
fair we have given in a preceding chapter. 

Margaret was finally returned to the au- 
thorities of Massachusetts^and made her 
appearance in the Supreme Court for the 


purpose above stated. She was splendidly 
attired in silk and satin — wore magnificent 
gold ear-drops and finger rings, and sported 
a costly gold watch and chain. She ap- 
peared as firm and unmoved as ever — but 
her form was thinner than usual, and hei 
countenance bore the traces of long con- 
finement and suffering, and of a mind ill 
at ease. She had nothing to say to 'he 
Court herself, but requested an officer to 
remind His Honor that she had already 
been a prisoner for nearly a year and a 
half. Judge Bigelow, in passing sentence, 
said he was aware of that fact, and also ot 
many more which hethought over-balanced 
it. He remarked that she had made false 
statements to subserve her own ends, and 
had twice attempted to escape from custody 
The Judge informed her that the long im- 
prisonment of which she complained was 
her own fault. As a minister of justice he 
could not inflict a nominal fine. He then 
sentenced her to two years hard labor in 
the House of Correction at South Boston. 
Twenty years is the full penalty of the 
law. [At the time of our writing this, a 
petition for Margaret’s pardon is being cir- 
culated, and is to be carried before the 
Governor and Council.] After her sen- 
tence, she was conveyed to her new quar- 
ters at the House of Correction, where the 
fair lady was obliged to exchange her rich 
dresses and finery, for the plain, clean, 
homespun garb of the prison house. Thus, 
for the present, ends the career of this re- 
markable personage. The author of this, 
with many others, has conversed with her 
in private, and we can bear witness that 
she is a woman of no ordinary genius and 
talent, and possesses considerable more in- 
formation than the average of females. She 
has made a fitting companion for the in- 
domitable and enterprising Darlington, and 
we shall not be surprised, at some future 
day, to learn of their reunion in some quar- 
ter outside o the pale of American law« 
and justice. 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


M 

In drawing to a conclusion, we must not 
forget to mention the notorious Drurys in 
New \ ork. The elder Sam, after being 
acquitted on the torpedo charge, now 
awaits a trial on th.e charge of counterfeit- 
ing. Thus far, Drury’s money and exceed- 
ing cunning have worked wonders for him 
in the way of delaying and thwarting jus- 
tice. There cannot be the slightest possi- 
ble doubt of his guilt ; but most of the wit- 
nesses against him are persons of vile char- 
acter, and some of them perjurers thus 
there is a chance left for the old villain to 
escape the avenging hand of Justice. 

Young Sam, also, has been attended with 
a degree of luck in avoiding punishment by 
the laws. His affidavit against One Eyed 
Thompson will be recollected, in which he 
charged the torpedo affair upon that indi- 
vidual, although acknowledging that he 
himself carried the box to Warner’s house. 
It is a matter of speculation whether the 
young man was, or was not, a guilty par- 
ticipant in the transaction. But, however 
it may have been, it seems that Sam, after 
passing some months’ ordeal in the courts 
of New York and Brooklyn, and having 
retired to his father’s residence in Astoria, 
could not resist an inclination to prosecute 
some singular experiments of a ‘torpedo 
nature. Accordingly, we find that in tfTe 
fall of 1850, Sam, while experimenting in 
his garden, got seriously injured, and the 
young man’s scientific researches were, for 
a period, put an end to. As a matter of 
curiosity, we will describe the machine he 
had prepared for. explosion. He took the 
hub of an old wagon wheel, and in the iron 
cylinder which receives the axle he ham- 
mered a quantity of powder and a grist of 
slugs. In the largest end he rivetted and 
soldered an iron pound weight, and then 
the whole thing was imbedded in the earth. 
It was S^m’s intention, of course, to have 
it burst ; he therefore placed the small end 
of the hub downwards, and drilled a vent- 
hole through the side to receive the match. 


A dignified New York editor, in recording 
the matter, said — “ The object of the ex- 
periment was, doubtless, to test the lateral 
force of an explosion in the earth.” Sam 
touched the match, but the torpedo failed 
to explode. After a short time, he ap- 
proached to examine the cause of the delay 
in the discharge, and, under the impression 
that the match had ceased to burn, leaned 
over the missile at the very moment it ex 
ploded. The contents and fragments ot 
the thing struck him in various parts of his 
person — the most serious wound was made 
in his throat, which was torn or cut in a 
most shocking manner. He was immedi- 
ately removed to the house, and medical 
aid was summoned. The wound was very 
severe, but not necessarily fatal. Of his 
final recovery there is little doubt. 

The two Drurys — father and son — are 
assuredly most singular characters. The 
elder one has been possessed of vast wealth, 
but we understand that the greater part of 
his resources have been spent within the 
space of two years, in avoiding and shield- 
ing himself from justice. 

One Eyed Thompson has also, thus far 
escaped what would be considered his just 
deserts, and is now acting in the capacity 
of publisher and editor of a newspaper in 
Brooklyn, N. Y. He would have it ap- 
pear that he intends now to lead an honest 
life, and we trust that the event will prove 
the appearance true. 

Thus we have followed, to a considera- 
ble extent, the careers of several notorious 
individuals who have been more . or less 
identified with the crimes of Bristol Bill. 
The chief actors in this great drama, it 
will be seen, have passed through a lengthy 
and severe ordeal of judicial investigation, ■ 
and at least three of the great gang have 
received tit r.ieriteJ reward of a longr ca- 
reer C T%! 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


9ft 


CHAPTER XXXV. 

BRISTOL BILL AND CHRISTIAN MEADOWS IN 

PRISON — THE BEHAVIOR OF EACH — THEIR 

OCCUPATION — BILL’S LAST ATTEMPT TO ES- 
CAPE. 

Advancing rapidly to the conclusion of 
our task, we locate in the State’s Prison at 
Windsor, Vermont, the 

“ Last scene of all, 

That ends this strange eventful history.” 

Darlington and Meadows are each sen- 
tenced to ten years imprisonment £or coun-» 
forfeiting; and Bill will, no doubt, unless 
he clandestinely escapes, be subjected to 
additional confinement. The Grand Jury 
have found a bill against him, charging him 
with an assault with intent to kill Bliss N. 
Davis, the State’s Attorney. This indict- 
ment will hang suspended over him till 
near the expiration of his present term, 
when, it is to be supposed, he will be tried, 
found guilty, and sentenced to another ten 
years. 

During the first part of Bristol Bill’s 
confinement in the State Prison he was the 
source of great trouble and considerable 
terror to the warden and keepers. Fear- 
less desperation stamped his whole conduct, 
and for a time he seemed to have lost that 
cool cunning and other peculiar traits which 
had previously characterised him. He 
would struggle violently in his chains, and 
was abusive and threatening towards h?s 
keepers. Meadows, on the contrary, with 
chastened spirit, was quiet, and went cheer- 
fully to work. But it was some time be- 
fore Bill could be brought to any useful 
service. He was tied up to a post, and 
lashed, again and again — but it merely 
seemed like worrying a caged tiger, and 
produced no good effect He was then 
kept in heavy chains and solitary confine- 
ment, where he had ample chance for quiet 
meditation. After some days, Bill had 
evidently regained his coolness and discre- 


tion, and it was apparent that his vioient 
conduct had been but a temporary paroxysm 
of rage induced by disappointed revenge 
and his almost hopeless fate. He signified 
his willingness to work, and was therefore 
sent into the machine shop, where he was 
taught to manufacture scythe snaths ; but 
the keepers took the precaution, at the 
same time, to attach a heavy log to his 
leg to prevent his escape. 

After this his demeanor was singularly 
quiet, and he was exceedingly civil to the 
officers of the prison. But the deep frown 
that ever rested on his brow, and the 
occasional flashing of his deep, dark eye, 
spoke too plainly an unmistakeable lan- 
guage; — it was apparent that his whole 
mind was absorbed with the thought of 
liberty, and was continually revolving plans 
of escape. 

Bill had been confined some months 
in prison, before the keepers received any 
direct evidence of a fixed attempt to break 
out. They had always kept the most 
strict watch over him, and were exceeding- 
ly careful that no tool or instrument should 
come within his reach, that could be turned 
to an improper account. Unusual orders 
had been given for his safe keeping; for 
Bill’s reputation had followed him even 
into the country villages of Vermont, and 
there were many who deemed it almost a 
matter of impossibility to keep long secure 
in prison walls so daring and skilful a burg- 
lar as the celebrated Bill Darlington. 

One morning, after the prisoners had 
gone to the work-shops, the cells in which 
they staid over night were, as usual, care- 
fully examined. One of the officers, in 
looking over Bill’s cell, spied in an obscure 
corner some little whittlings, which very 
naturally excited curious suspicions, but 
for a long time nothing of a more suspi- 
cious nature was discovered. It could not 
bex accounted for, how whittlings could be 
there, or how Bill could have in his pos- 
session any instrument to make them. — 
Finally, on a minute examination of the 


96 . 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS 


oed, they found the large wooden model of 
key, and this, when tried, was found to 
fit the prison loor lock. Here, certainly, 
was a remarkable proof of Bill’s genius 
and invention. But it was never learned 
how ot when he had accomplished the 
work. Bill was immediately shown the 
model, and questioned ; — his rage knew no 
bounds, and he would answer no questions. 
Another fit of ugliness seemed to have 
seized him, and he was ordered to the 
whipping post. He was then flogged, ac- 
cording to the prison rules. No exhibi- 
tion of suffering, however, did he vouch- 
safe to the eyes or ears of the hardened 
minions of the law ; and when the lash 
paused in its inhuman work, he laughed 
scornfully in their faces. He was whipped 
again, and he bantered them. 

“ You d d fools ! have you got the 

silly idea that you can keep me here for 
ten years?” said Bill, with a derisive 
laugh, even while the blood coursed down 
his tattered back. 

Another flogging, with about the same 
efl ect, and the officers desisted. Then 
came another period of solitary confine- 
ment, and after a while Bill again resumed 
his place in the machine shop. 

One fact is worthy of mention, in refer- 
ence to Bill's attempts to escape from the 
State Prison. The warden and other offi- 
cers have sedulously strove to keep the 
truth of the matter from the public, for the 
reason, no doubt, that if it became general- 
ly known that Bristol Bill had any chance 
or facilities to escape, there are a plenty of 
his pals in various parts of the country, 
who would immediately hasten to Ver- 
mont, in readiness to afford any assistance 
in their power, and co-operate with him 
for his safety, in case he once cleared the 
prison walls. Therefore, vhen the reports 
have leaked out, of Bill’s continued schemes 
to effect his freedom, the State officers 
have taken exceeding pains to deny their 
iruth They certainly fear that he will 


yet work loose from their dutches, and 
stand in dread ot any organized attemp o* 
the part of skilful crossmen, who are un 
known to them, to free their old comrade 
from his loathsome confines. It is a well 
known fact, both in Boston and New York 
that parties of two and three, from either 
city, have occasionally paid a visit to Wind 
sor. Their purpose could he easily guess 
ed. It is well known that Margaret O’Cor 
nor, while in New York, labored assidu 
ously, in various ways, among the cracks 
men then in that city, to induce some ol 
them to attempt Bill’s release. How fai 
she succeeded we cannot state ; but there* 
is little doubt that her persuasions were 
the cause of at least two notorious outlaw 
visiting Vermont. Whether or not they 
accomplished anything remains a mystery 

During the month of November, 1850 
Bill made another attempt to leave «,he 
narrow boundaries in which the State cop 
fined him; and, forsooth, he came very 
near effecting his object. Of course but 
few facilities exist outside of the prison, 
for learning the precise manner in which 
Bill exercised his daring and ingenuity in 
this instance ; but such brief information 
as we possess has been gathered from a 
high legal officer in Vermont. 

The first that was discovered of this af- 
fair,. was late one dark night. The guard 
was going his rounds near the outside wall, 
when he suddenly heard a strange clanking 
noise, and stopped to listen. For some 
time all w’as quiet, and his suspicions at 
length vanished. But the noise was re- 
peated, and he rushed to. the spot from 
whence the sound emanated. There he 
found a man who was attempting ta 
clamber over the wall, but the fugitive was 
so trammelled with fetters, that every time 
he tried to gain a foothold he would fall 
back, and his chains would clank against 
the stones. The guard was armed, and 
calling for help, he seized his prisoner, whf 
proved to be no less a personage than Brit 


OF BRISTOL BILL. 


ft 


<m Bi»\. The unfortunate man was car- 
ried baekj and placed in a new cell. Thus 
ended his last essay to break from prison. 
But here was a mystery for the keepers to 
unfold. Bill always took them unawares, 
and they found it next to impossible to dis- 
cover where he obtained the means of leav- 
ing his cell. 

An examination showed that such por- 
tions of his irons had been cut as to allow 
him the free use of his hands and a partial 
use of his legs ; the locks of both the cell 
and outer doors had been either picked or 
opened by false keys; and the whole 
scheme of escape appeared so perfect, that 
they were more and more puzzled as they 
investigated it. Silence was the only an 
swer given by Bill to their interrogatories, 
and when a flogging was threatened, he 
met them only with a scornful laugh. 

A new cell was more tightly secured, 
and fresh obstacles were put in Bill’s de- 
sired path. By day, while at his work, a 
watchful eye was ever upon him ; and take 
it altogether, Bill seems thus far to have 
occasioned the keepers about as much 
vexation and trouble as all the rest of 
the unhappy convicts put together. 

It may be a matter of serious specula- 
tion whether or not Bristol Bill, even if 
alive, will serve out the term for which 
he is imprisoned. A man of such indom- 
itable energy — of such unexampled daring, 
rendered more vigorous by desperation — 
needs something more than common prison 
bars to keep him from the world. But, as 
much as we may admire the extraordinary 
talents and peerless bravery of Bristol 
Bill, we know that he but suffers the legal 
penalty of a series of crimes, and that it 
is for the good of the community that such 
a man should be kept aloof from his fel- 
low beings. 


CONCLUSION. 


Look on him— through his dungeon grata, 
Feebly and cold, the morning light 
Comes stealing round him, dim and lata, 

As if it loiihed the sight. 

Reclining on his trawy bed, 

His hand upholds his drooping head — 

His bloodless cheek is hard and seared, 

Unshorn his rou»h, neglected heard; 

And o'er his bony fingers flow 
His long, dishevelled locks * 

There, in the cold confines of the Ver 
m®nt State Prison, we leave the subject of 
our work — toiling, by day, under the eyes 
of vigilant keepers, and sleeping, by night, 
within the dreary walls of a loathsome cell, 
where even the pale and kindly moon is 
not suffered to shed her benignant rays, 
although it were possible for thftm to come 
scantily through the close iron bars that 
chequer the small aperture which might 
satirically be called a window. There, 
in the desolate midnight, on his hard 
couch, tosses the restless form of the great 
burglar ; little sleep comes to his eyelids ; 
he dreams — but his are waking dreams — 
of liberty ; he reviews the long procession 
of the past ; — away, far away into year# 
gone by, gradually wander his thoughts 
and youth, with all its halo of innocence 
and pleasure, beams on his vivid memory. 
He qannot forget — ay ! now her beauteous 
form flits before him — no, he cannot forget 
the first bride of his true but impulsive 
heart, the sweet but frail Mary Livingston. 
He endeavors to trace her desolate lite up- 
ward. But, alas! many a long year has 
flown onward to oblivion, since the lips of 
William Darlington touched those of his 
first love. Can it be, that her fair form is 
mouldering in the grave ; or, is it possible, 
that even now, grey-haired and forlorn, she 
sits pondering over the mysterious fate o< 
her early beloved ] And where are the 
two sweet babes who, years ago, were left 
fatherless] Is not all this a theme for the 
solitary meditation of the prisoner ] Again, 
he pants for freedom. He indulges in the 
vain hope that freedom may yet unravel the 
mysteries connected with his career — tha. 


life and exploits 


9 * 

he may once more walk among his fellow 
men, and go wheresoever he list. Per- 
haps the land of his birth he would again 
visit, and old associations, thronging thick 
within his heart, might bring to his eyes 
the tears of eternal repentance. 

The prison in which Bill is confined., at 
Windsor, A r t., is built of stone; and of 
rather antique fashion. It is surrounded hv 
a brick wail about thirteen feet high, tyid 
guarded on the top by a thick chevaux-c/e- 
frize , or close iron spikes. The persons 
who have been generally confined in this 
prison have been culprits not regularly 
versed in the scientific arts of crime, and 
therefore without the skill to perfect a 
successful attempt at escape. We recol- 
lect, however, of two prisoners, some 
years ago, who, having obtained egress 
from the main building, found theii way 
over the wall by means of a board which 
they took from one of the workshops. But 
the prison has usually been looked upon, 
by the Vermonters, as a very secure fast- 
ness. and its barriers almost as insurmount- 
able as the Old Bastile of Paris. Its se- 
curity, nevertheless, remains to be proved, 
as the author imagines. Bars and bolts 
will never have been put to a stronger test 
than during the imprisonment of Bristol 
Bill 

During the month of December, 1850, 
our artist went to Vermont, and, obtaining 
the necessary permit, visited the interior 
of the State Prison. There were about 
ninety prisoners confined there at the time, 
and the guard was numerous and strong. 
In the machine shop he saw Bristol Bill, 
industriously engaged in making scythe 
snaths ; he held his head down, and kept 
his eyes steadfastly on his work, although 
conscious that a stranger was standing near 
him ; while he plied the spoke-shave with 
as much aea. and vigor as would any free 
and honest mechanic. In another depart- 
ment of the prison, was seen Christian 
Meadows ; he was highly spoken of by 


the warden for his uniformly quiet conduct 
Meadows has grown thin in his confine- 
ment, and it is evident that he has become 
a repentant man. He has not the deep 
passions, or a particle of the desperation, 
of Bristol Bill ; Tut calmly bides his fate, 
and perhaps looks forward, with something 
like reasonable hope, towards an executive 
pardon. 

Bv the politeness of the warden, at an- 
other hour, our artist was suffered to visit 
the cell in which Bristol Bill was confined 
when not in the work shop. The turn- 
key unlocked the heavy door, and the visit- 
or looked within. A cold, narrow ceil, 
but cleanly, was the apartment that met 
his view. An iron bedstead and a short 
wooden bench formed the only furniture 
Bill sat there unmoved as a statue, and 
calmly met the strange eyes that were fixed 
upon him. He did not appear angry oi 
offended, but preserved a most stoical ex- 
pression of countenance. To the close 
observer of human nature, however, the 
light of those dark mysterious eyes was 
known to stream from the hidden sun of a 
fiery soul, struggling, in the clouds of ad- 
versity, to beam once more in the pure 
heaven of freedom. 

Oh, liberty ! can man resign thee, 

Once having felt thy generous flame ? 

Can dungeons,, bolls, and bars confine thee. 

Or whips thy noble spirit tame ? 

f 1 • - * 

With a delicate feeling of sympathy for 
the unhappy prisoner’s situation, the artist 
made short his stay at the cell door, and 
hastened away. The keepers spoke of 
Bill as well-behaved, and expressed the 
opinion that it was impossible for him to 
escape. 

High walls and huge the body may confine, 

And iron gates obstruct the prisoncr’s-gaase 

And massive holts may baffle his design, 

And vigilant keepers watch his devious ways; 

Yet scorns the immortal mind such futile cloy ! 

No chains can bind it, and no cells destroy ! 

Bristol Bill, no doubt, though exhibiting 

no outward manifestation of restless dis* 

* 

comfort, suffers acutely in his mind. He 


OF BRISK ) L BILL. 


99 


•ays but little, although it is apparent that 
hva mental senses have lost none of their 
activity and vigor. So far as regards the 
physical effect of his imprisonment, he 
bears his confinement but poorly, and has 
already lost about twenty pounds of flesh. 
Although his labor is not laborious, it se- 
verely affects his constitution, and it seems 
as if in course of time it would break him 
dowh. He . pines for the excitement of 
active life ; but despair has not yet dimmed 
his soul, or weakened his courage and res- 
olution. No prison can tame such a man — 
no walls can trammel the daring indepen- 
dence of his mind ; — his body may grow 
spectre-like under the inactive solitude of a 
dungeon ; he may be but the wreck of 
what he once was ; but let the first hope- 
ful ray of freedom mingle with the glances 
of his eyes, and there again will be seen 
the man as he was ! The desperation that 
would nerve his heait, and thrill through his 
bony arms, would make him a dangerous 
being to oppose, as he rushed onward to 
his liberty. If obstructed in an attempted 
escape, death — death — Would undoubtedly 
attend the fearless burglar or some partici- 
pant in the reckless scene. 

It may be supposed by some, that he is 
left entirely dependent on his own resources 
in his attempts to free himself from legal 
bondage ; by others, it is confidently be- 
lieved that no inconsiderable assistance is 
wanting, outside the prison walls, to make 
good his deliverance from “ durance vile.” 

What would be Bill’s course, were he 
to effect an escape, must be left to the im- 
agination. Vengeance on those who have 
worked him ill, seems deep rooted in his 
heart ; and perhaps, bidding adieu to wise 
discretion, he would seek the scene of his 
trial, and wreak his revenge on the heads 
of those unhappy men who, for their own 
personal safety, betrayed their leader into 
the pitiless hands of the law. 

Thus dear reader, we complete our 
v rk by presenting to you the latest scene 

7 


in the ir-teresting career of William Dar- 
lington — a man who has reached to the 
most notorious . fame of a confirmed and 
skilful robber. Circumstances have made 
him what he is. Born of the most respec- 
table parentage — reared almost in luxury — 
receiving all the advantages of education 
which comfortable wealth could bestow — 
yet, one youthful dereliction shaped the 
disgraceful course of his after life, and 
brought him to a convicted felon’s fate. 
Possessing an ambition and talents which, 
if rightly directed, would have placed him 
in a high position in honorable society, h« 
certainly enjoyed, in his youthful days, ad- 
vantages much beyond those of common 
mankind. But, even as he might have 
gained a virtuous name and fame, ano 
ranked far above his fellows — so, yielding 
to the wayward and reckless pleasures of 
budding manhood, he entered on another 
extreme, and is now known to American# 
only as the most accomplished and success 
ful robber who ever came to us from the 
English shores. 

We feel that, although we have filled up 
many an important blank in the criminal 
history of our country, we. have left oui 
work imperfectly performed. The well 
known tactiturnity of Bristol Bill, and the 
want of legal documents, have conspired to 
render our task difficult. But we believe, 
nevertheless, that we have thrown more 
light upon this notorious criminal’s career 
than is to be gleaned from any other indi- 
vidual source. So far as we have explored 
the mysterious paths of his life, we have 
stated correctly. Perhaps the time may 
come, when the seal now upon his lips may 
be broken, and* his full confessions, as 
transcribed by abler pens, may strike a 
curious world* with awe. Could he, or 
would he, tell every interesting episode in 
his remarkable journey through life, it 
would create astonishment in the /.ainds o i 
all who might hear or rea i thy sing'll a* 
narrative. 


LIFE AND EXPLOITS OF BRISTOL BILL. 


1 &. 

Not as in most histories of personal ad- 
venture, we close the “ life of Bristol 

v 

Bill” while the subject of our sketch is 

in the full prime and strength of life and 

manhood. No 1 rag; ic scene ends the tale — 

we tell of no dying bed, and no funeral 

act. We leave the convict in his living 

♦omb : for, as the' poet says — 

A prison is in all things like a grave, 

Where we no better privileges have 
Than dead men; nor so good! 

And now the world may read and pon- 
der on the ignominious fate of one who 
was born to better deeds ; but who, having 


early wandered from the “ straight an* 
narrow path,” chose the career of an out 
law, and experienced all the strange vicis- 
situdes attendant on a long poriod of daring 
villany. But let not admiration for hi# 
bravo deeds blind with a false halo hia 
faults and his crimes foi his is a history, 
if looked upon aright, which affords a se* 
rious lesson to the youth of our times. 

When Bristol Bill shall pass away he 
will have 

left a name at which the world grew pale 

To point a moral or adorn a tale. 



APPENDIX. 


On page 84th, and to the 89th inclusive, 
the -°ader has found Margaret O’Connor’s 
atrocious affidavit, and the proceedings con- 
nected with it. These originally appeared in 
the N. Y. Herald, and since then James 
Gordon Bennett has been sued by Mr. Wilkes, 
editor of the National Police Gazette , for 
libel. The falsity of the affidavit, &c., has 
been made apparent by the revelations pro- 
duced in the cross-exanination of Margaret 
O’Connor, which took place before Judge 
Daly, in New York, in December, 1850. She 
testifies as follows: — 

Q,. You state in that affidavit that Mr. 
Wilkes knew that your statement of Boston 
was false; is that so or not ? 

A. That is not my language. I stated 
that Mr Thompson had given me to under- 
stand that Mr. Wilkes was perfectly well 
*w*re of the falsity of the statement. Mr. 
Cl'frhe. corrected the language I made use of , 
»n that and several times during that exami- 
nation. 

In reply to questions asked by James M. 


Smith, Esq., counsel for Mr. Wilkes, the follow- 
ing testimony was elicited: — 

Q,. Who was present when it (the affidavit) 
was taken, and where was it taken ? 

A. It was taken in the interior of the 
prison ; Air. Horace F. Clark was present , 
with Justice Mountfort and Air. Edmonds, 
the keeper. 

Q,. Did you read that affidavit yourself be- ' 
fore you swore to it ? 

A. I did not . 

Q.. Was it read to yon, and if so, who 
read it ? 

A. I do not know if it was read, to me or 
not ; I do not think it was. 

Mr. Wilkes, afterwards, in the National 
Police Gazette, speaking of the diabolical 
means which had been resorted to, to defame 
himself, and procure Margaret O’Connor’s 
pardon, said most truly : — “ it is not oniy 
infamous, but horrible, and is enough to make 
a man tremble with terror, when he under- 
takes to bring to justice-, a powerful band of 
criminals, who have the means to pun&aac 
unscrupulous assistance.’* 

























































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